E/R: Begoro Kingmakers Unanimously Accept The Judicial Committee’s Ruling

The six out of the seven kingmakers of the Royal Asona Family has unanimously affirmed and endorsed the ruling of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs as a true reflection of the decision that led to the electing of the 9th Respondent Amfo Amoa as a valid candidate to ascend to the Begoro stool.

Reacting to a recent news publication of issues relating to Akyem Begoro chieftaincy unrest , the Ankobeahene and also a kingmaker of Akyem Begoro traditional area, Baffuor Owiredu Agyarko Minta II has clarified that, the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs ruled in favor of the 9th Respondent Amfo Amoa as eligible to ascend to the Begoro Stool in an appeal case filed by the Appellants.

Baffour Owiredu Agyarko Minta II speaking in a press conference at Begoro revealed that the ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs dated 14th December , 2022 affirmed the earlier ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council (JCAATC) on 25th November, 2021 that the 9th Respondent Amfo Amoa hails from the Antwi Kwasi lineage is validly elected and is eligible to ascend to the Royal Asona stool of Begoro and have gone through the necessary customary procedures used by the seven kingmakers.

According to Baffuor Owiredu Agyarko Minta II, in determination of the appeal filed by the Appellant’s against the Respondents on four sub issues by the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, the Judicial Committee ruled that ;

1. The 9th Respondent Amfo Amoa is eligible to ascend to the Begoro stool because he is of a royal blood and a true royal of the Begoro Asona Royal Family. The 9th Respondent is a descendant of Antwi Kwasi who occupied the stool for 27 years”.
2. The finding of fact made by the trial Judicial Committee Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council on the issue of nomination is amply supported by the evidence on record and bourne out of the record and same will not be disturbed. We emphasis again that there was a valid nomination done by the queen mother and all three valid attempt failed”.
3. The finding of fact made by the trial of Judicial Committee of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council on the issue of composition of the kingmakers is amply supported by the evidence on record and same will not be disturbed. We find that there are seven kingmakers of the Royal Asona Family of Begoro and these are Osaberima Oware Pinkro II, Osaberima Bosompem Ayiripe III, Osaberima Otu Darko , Baffour Oworade Agyarko, Baffour Appiah, Baffour Amakwa , Baffour Oteng Effah”.
4. The findings of fact made by the trial Judicial Committee Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council on the issue of the process used in the selection of the 9th Respondent, we have reason to interfere in the said finding of fact made by the committee below and will therefore adjudged that the process used in the selection of the 9th Respondent is uncustomary and same is declared a nullity. The Kingmakers should proceed to use the known customs and traditions of the people of Begoro to select a candidate to ascend to the stool as the three attempt by the queen mother has failed”.

The Ruling further stated that “the Judgement of the Judicial Committee of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council (JCAATC) dated Thursday 25th November , 2021 in respect of the chieftaincy action initiated by the Petitioners or Appellants against the Respondent (s) is hereby set aside and replaced by the findings above.
The appeal succeed in this respect only , that the selection of the 9th Respondent is declared null and void. It behoove now on the kingmakers who haven previously interviewed and interacted with all the eligible candidates to make a selection in accordance with customs and practice”.

Baffour Minta II said, the Kingmakers followed suit in respect to the section of the ruling which nullified the use of CV in the selection process and yet majority of the kingmakers confirmed the 9th Respondent Amfo Amoa as a valid candidate to ascend the stool.

He explained that “the judgement which came suggested that we the [kingmakers] have perfectly executed our mandate but CV is not a valid criteria to elect a chief, so we the Kingmakers together with the Appellant were subsequently invited by Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin and ordered us to follow the court ruling, to our surprise the Appellant (Abusuapanin) rejected three of the kingmakers; thus Apreman, Osinohene and Serakohene but the other four which are Ankobeahene, Twafohene, Kyidomhene and Rempihene should be allowed to vote “

“So Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin granted the Appellant (the Abusuapanin) request and the four kingmakers were allowed to vote , after the voting three of the kingmakers voted for the 9th Respondent Amfo Amoa and one voted for the other candidate so Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin endorsed the 9th Respondent that a fix date will be given for him to be installed as the Chief of Begoro” he said.

The Ankobeahene reiterated further that as a kingmaker for the Royal Asona Family , he will fully support any candidate who is dully elected and is eligible to ascend to the stool.

He also advised section of the traditional area who made unpalatable comments about the Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori to refrain from such act and accord the needed respect to the Okyenhene and the Akyem Abuakwa Judicial Committee.

Meanwhile, the Reagent Queen Mother of the Royal Asona Family of Begoro , Nana Adwoa Kessewa narrated that the 9th Respondent Amfo Amoa is eligible to ascend to the Begoro stool because he is a true royal of the Antwi Kwasi gate one of the four ruling houses of the Royal Asona Family of Begoro who ruled from 1874 to 1901 until his demise when he was buried as a chief.

By // Ansah Stephen.