Abetifi Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Bryan Acheampong has condemned the violent clashes in the area on Thursday which left six injured, describing it as “very disgusting.”
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, he said such an incident should never have occurred.
The clashes erupted after a group of armed men, led by Obaapanyin Yaa Asantewaa, the Abrewatia, stormed the Abetifi Palace to destool the Kwahu Adontenhene, Akyemfour Asiedu Agyemang III, who is currently acting as the President of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
The men, initially thought to be National Security operatives, escorted Yaa Asantewaa to the palace, where they detained Agyemang III.
Yaa Asantewaa and her group then forced the chief to a nearby older palace, where they performed traditional rites to destool him, including the slaughtering of a sheep.
This enraged a group of youths, who armed themselves with machetes and initiated a reprisal attack. The situation nearly escalated, but the timely intervention of the police prevented further violence.
Dr. Acheampong, who is also the Minister for Food and Agriculture, noted that the ordeal the chief, who had served for 30 years, went through was a disgrace.
“The chief has been in office for 30 years, and for him to be subjected to this disgrace for two solid hours is very bad,” he stated.
He added that the entire situation was tense such that he has personally visited Kwawu to support the estranged chief.
“The chief came to Accra for a medical review before returning to Kwawu. We thank God that no lives were lost. It’s bad for a chief to be treated this way,” he said.
Dr. Acheampong also mentioned that the individuals involved, including Yaa Asantewaa, have been taken to court and remanded until next week.
He praised the police for their efforts in keeping the suspects out of town, although he noted that this was a difficult decision.
He said calm had been restored in the community.
“There is calm now, and everyone has gone about their business. There is total peace,” he assured.