Setting a good example?OFFINSOHENE BONKS 'SISTERS'... sub-chief files petition to Otumfuo

The Asantehene's Secretariat in Kumasi has started investigations into allegations that the Offinsohene, Nana Wiafe Akenten III impregnated two sisters from the same family about four years ago. This follows a petition filed by Nana Takyi Abeam I, the chief of Ampabame in Offinso and a sub divisional Chief of Offinso Traditional Council, attracting Otumfuo's attention and a potential danger of destoolment.

Nana Abeam confirmed the filing of the petition against Nana Wiafe Akenten in an interview he recently granted to The Chronicle. He said that he was aware the Akyempemhene, Nana Adusei Poku has been mandated to handle the petition. The latter confirmed that a petition of that sort had been received by Otumfuo's Secretariat, but said he could not personally do anything about the situation, because Offinsohene was not under him.

Nana Takyi Abeam alleged that though he filed his petition in September last year, Nana Wiafe Akenten has failed to turn up to defend himself.

According to him, he has also sent a similar petition to the Offinso Traditional Council but could not reach members for discussion, because the Offinsohene allegedly snatched it from the hands of the Registrar.

He insisted that all the evidences were available, and that the kids of the two sisters, who the Offinsohene impregnated, were alive. “They are all alive, they are not dead. I am daring him to come out and deny the story, I have come out to make the allegations against him, I'm ready to meet him before the Otumfuo or anywhere that is necessary,” he reiterated.

He said, customarily the Offinsohene erred in impregnating two sisters from the same family. He said his documents of proof were available and that wherever he was invited to, he would make them available.

Nana Abeam again declared Offinsohene's denial that the blackstool was not missing as a blatant lie. He said Nana Akenten has not been consistent in the on-going saga of the lost stool, adding that “at a point he tells people that the stool is not missing, but it is rather some of the gold ornaments that are missing.

At another time he says the stool was missing but has been found.”

He further stated that he was aware that a royal of the Offinso Traditional Stool had gone to Otumfuo and invoked his 'Ntamkese' on the Offinsohene, and knowing the repercussions involved, he did not challenge it.

He said the chiefs were not happy about the way and manner he handles the affairs of the traditional council, stressing that the chief should honourably abdicate his stool or face destoolment.

Nana Abeam intimated that they had long wanted to report the attitude of Nana Akenten to Otumfuo but found it difficult to do so, and now that they have realised how approachable the Otumfuo is, they would soon have audience with him.

The Registrar of the Offinso Traditional Council, Mr. Gyedu confirmed receiving the petition from Nana Abeam, alleging that Nana Wiafe Akenten had impregnated two sisters. He, however, said Nana Akenten took the petition from him as soon it was submitted to his office, as a result he could not present it to the traditional council.

When this reporter contacted Nana Wiafe Akenten to know the truth or otherwise of the allegation, he said he had been asked by Otumfuo not to comment on the matter. “As for Nana Abeam, if he has a case against me he should go ahead with it,” he concluded.

Speaking in an interview, Opanyin Kofi Apau, the Elder of the stool which Chronicle's investigation identified was the one who invoked Otumfuo's Ntamkese on Nana Akenten, said as far as he was concerned there were two black stools missing.

He noted that part of one the black stools have been found while the other one could not be located. He told the paper that the Omanhene was the one to be held responsible.

Opanyin Apau, who was raging with anger, accused Nana Abeam for shielding the Offinsohene on the allegation of impregnating the two sisters, adding that he was going ahead with the case by presenting it to the Oumfuo in his personal capacity.

The Chronicle investigations continue.