The police have launched a full-scale investigation into a violent clash that occurred in Kwahu Abetifi, Eastern Region, which left six individuals with machete injuries.
The confrontation reportedly stemmed from an attempt by a group of armed men to destool Akyemfour Asiedu Agyemang III, the Kwahu Adontenhene and acting President of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
The group, initially thought to be National Security operatives, arrived in Abetifi on November 7, 2024, in the company of Obaapanyin Yaa Asantewaa, who claims to be the Abrewatia (Queen Mother) of the Kwahu area.
According to reports, Yaa Asantewaa and her group stormed the Abetifi Palace, where they detained the acting chief. They then forcefully escorted him to an older palace located nearby.
Once at the older palace, it is alleged that Yaa Asantewaa performed traditional rites aimed at removing Akyemfour Asiedu Agyemang III from office.
These rites reportedly included the slaughtering of a sheep as part of the destoolment ceremony.
The news of the purported destoolment spread rapidly through the community, sparking outrage among local residents.
The youth of Abetifi, in particular, took to the streets, armed with machetes, in protest. The escalating tension led to violent clashes between the demonstrators and security personnel.
In response, local law enforcement, along with a reinforcement team of police and military officers, was deployed to the area to restore order.
Their intervention was crucial in preventing the situation from spiraling further out of control.
Traditional leaders in the region quickly moved to reaffirm the legitimacy of Akyemfour Asiedu Agyemang III as the chief and acting president of the Kwahu Traditional Area, and he was restored to his position at the Abetifi Palace.
The police have made several arrests, including the individuals involved in the confrontation, and have launched an investigation to ascertain the full details behind the attempted destoolment.
Authorities are also seeking to determine whether there were any breaches of security protocol or legal violations during the incident.
As the investigation continues, both the local community and the broader public await further developments regarding the actions that led to this violent clash and its potential political and traditional ramifications for the Kwahu Traditional Area.
