Chieftaincy Dispute Erupts in Abura Dunkwa as Royal Family Announces Destoolment of Gyasehene Nana Obo Kwefuah VIII
A serious chieftaincy dispute has broken out in Abura Dunkwa in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District following the Odompem Adwenadze Royal Family’s public announcement of the destoolment of Nana Obo Kwefuah VIII as Gyasehene of the town.
The family declared that all necessary traditional rites and rituals to remove the chief from the stool have been duly performed, rendering his position vacant with immediate effect.
Speaking to the media, the family head, Abusuapanyin Kwame Essoun, explained that the decision stemmed from longstanding concerns over the chief’s conduct and failure to uphold the responsibilities of the stool.
He accused Nana Obo Kwefuah VIII of neglecting key traditional duties during festivals and other customary occasions for an extended period.
Essoun further alleged that the former Gyasehene had entered into a romantic relationship with a fetish priestess, an arrangement he described as incompatible with the customs and expectations attached to the stool and the royal family.
In addition, the family head claimed that Nana Obo Kwefuah VIII had tampered with documents related to stool lands by changing the title of the family head into his own name. Although the chief initially denied the allegation, Essoun said subsequent information available to the family confirmed the act had taken place.
Essoun revealed that in response to these accusations, Nana Obo Kwefuah VIII had leveled counter-allegations against him, including claims that Essoun had fathered a child with the chief’s former wife. The family head firmly rejected the accusation and dared the chief to produce any evidence to support it.
Following the completion of the destoolment process, Abusuapanyin Essoun appealed to the public and all stakeholders to cease recognizing Nana Obo Kwefuah VIII as the Gyasehene of Abura Dunkwa.
Another member of the royal family, Obaapanyin Aba Appiawa, endorsed the family’s action. She stated that over the past five months, the chief had been invited on multiple occasions to appear before the family and address the serious issues raised against him, but he consistently failed to respond or attend.
“His refusal to respond to the family’s summons left us with no option but to proceed with the destoolment in accordance with tradition,” she said.
The announcement has heightened tensions within the community as the royal family prepares to formalize the removal and deliberate on the future of the Gyasehene stool. Local observers anticipate that the matter may escalate further and require intervention from higher traditional authorities or the courts to resolve the impasse and restore harmony.
The development underscores the delicate nature of chieftaincy matters in many Ghanaian communities, where adherence to custom, accountability, and respect for traditional processes remain central to maintaining peace and legitimacy.
