The Office of the Okuapehemaa, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II, issued a stern caution on Monday against the reported impending enstoolment of former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo as Mmrahene (a traditional leader) of the Akuapem Traditional Area. The warning stems from ongoing, unresolved legal and customary disputes surrounding the legitimacy of the enstoolment process.
Publications had announced that the former Chief Justice was slated for enstoolment on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. This ceremony, according to the Okuapehemaa’s office, is reportedly being conducted by Odehye Kwadwo Kesse. Mr. Kesse continues to claim the title of Okuapehene under the stool name Oseadeeyo Nana Kwasi Akuffo III, despite multiple court rulings questioning his rightful claim.
The core of the dispute lies in the established customary procedures for selecting and enstooling an Okuapehene. The Okuapehemaa’s office cited a significant ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on April 30, 2020. This judgment explicitly outlined the required customary steps, emphasizing the necessity of involvement from the Abrewatia of the relevant ruling house, the Asonahene, the Queenmother, and elderly female representatives, all in accordance with Akuapem custom.
The statement from the Okuapehemaa’s office asserts that Odehye Kwadwo Kesse’s purported enstoolment bypassed these mandatory customary procedures. This contention was later reinforced by the Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs, further complicating Mr. Kesse’s claim to the stool.
The legal challenges did not end there. Contempt proceedings were subsequently initiated against Odehye Kwadwo Kesse and a Lily Agyemang at the High Court in Koforidua. Both individuals were found guilty of contempt and each incurred a fine of GH¢10,000.
While the fines were reportedly paid, the statement indicates that Mr. Kesse and Ms. Agyemang have not yet purged themselves of the contempt, meaning they have not taken the necessary steps to rectify their actions as ordered by the court. This ongoing status of contempt adds another layer of legal complexity to the situation.
Adding further weight to the existing judgments, an application for certiorari filed at the Supreme Court, aimed at quashing the High Court’s contempt ruling, was unanimously dismissed on February 20, 2024. This Supreme Court decision effectively affirmed the High Court’s jurisdiction in the matter and left the contempt conviction intact.
In light of these persistent legal and customary entanglements, the Okuapehemaa’s office has urged Justice Sophia Akuffo to exercise restraint regarding the purported enstoolment. The office acknowledged her distinguished career and international reputation.
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