Gomoa Assin chieftaincy dispute: 26 elders sign petition to arrest destooled paramount chief and remove Police Commander

Twenty six (26) elders including priests, priestesses and opinion leaders have signed a petition to arrest the destooled paramount chief of Gomoa Assin in the Central Region, Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobia II, after armed men allegedly sent by the destooled chief invaded the ancestral palace in the town.

Residents of the traditional capital of the Gomoa Akyempim (Assin) Traditional Area, are also up in arms with the police over what they described as a violent and illegal intrusion of their sacred palace by armed men.

In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, George Akuffo Dampare, the Elders, Opinion Leaders, and Asafo (guardians of customs) expressed their grave concerns about the increasing violence and insecurity plaguing their community.

It will be recalled that, On July 10, 2024, armed landguards invaded the Gomoa Akyempim Palace at dawn, just hours before scheduled ancestral rites.

The unrest began the previous night, at about 11:00 pm on July 9, 2024, when an emergency call was made to the Omanhemaa, Obaatanpa Ama Eduwa I, about the invasion of the palace.

As the Queenmother was en route to the town, the Asafo confronted the intruders, who claimed they were allegedly sent by the destooled Omanhen to close the palace. These 17 armed men were later identified as landguards from Ashaiman, a situation that has further unsettled the community.

Despite multiple plea for assistance, the Apam District Police Command responded late, arriving at about 1:00 am.

When the Queenmother arrived, the landguards escalated their aggression, barring her from entering the palace and threatening to obstruct the sacred rites but all the while the police stood by helpless.

Elders of the community expressed their disappointment over the police’s behavior, as they were seen conversing amicably with the landguards instead of making arrests. The police then instructed the Omanhemaa and the Asafo to file a complaint at the station, a situation which further fueled the community’s frustration.

The petition recounts how the destooled Omanhen had earlier ordered the palace to be closed, a directive the Asafo overturned, arguing that he had abandoned the palace two years prior. The Elders believe this intrusion was a deliberate attempt by Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobia II to instill fear and panic in the residents, exacerbating the town’s insecurity.

The landguards vacated the palace three days later, but not before assaulting residents ( many of whom are hospitalised now) and blocking the palace gates with heaps of stones and sand.

A source within the palace said “The embattled Omanhen’s attempts to uproot the sacred shrine from the palace to his private residence also contributed to his destoolment”.

The petition called into question the integrity of the Apam Police, accusing them of having compromised their positions and not acting in the Traditional Area’s best interest. It highlights the increased violence linked to landguard activities, including the recent brutal murder of a military officer in the Gomoa Fetteh/Nyanyano enclave, attributing this surge to the embattled Omanhen’s actions.

The residents of Gomoa Assin are therefore, “Calling for urgent investigation and arrest of Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobia II and his accomplices. We urge the Ghana Police Service to act swiftly to restore law and order and ensure the safety of the residents. The unresolved issues could lead to uncontrollable tensions and violent clashes”. The residents warned.