BY Daniel Bampoe
The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has destooled the Kyekyewerehene, Barima Okunini Gyebi Kwame Ababio, citing a fundamental breach of allegiance and conduct deemed incompatible with chieftaincy under Akyem authority.
The decisive action was taken during the 4th Quarter State Council Meeting held on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Ofori Panin Fie, where the Okyenhene publicly rebuked the chief for what he described as betrayal and duplicity.
Addressing the State Council, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin recalled that in March 2022, Barima Okunini Gyebi Kwame Ababio swore the oath of allegiance to him as a chief within Akyem.
However, the Okyenhene disclosed that, contrary to that oath, the Kyekyewerehene later and secretly had himself gazetted as a chief under Akuapem authority.
According to Osagyefuo, such an action amounted to a direct affront to the Akyem stool and an attempt to place Akyem kingship under the jurisdiction of the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akufo III, who is also his nephew.
“You are a chief in Akyem,” the Okyenhene stated firmly.
“You swore allegiance to me here in Ofori Panin, yet you went behind to register yourself in the name of Akuapem. You cannot take my kingship and put it under the authority of my nephew. If you consider yourself Akuapem, then go to Akuapem and be a chief there, not in Akyem.”
He further directed that Barima Okunini Gyebi Kwame Ababio should cease presenting himself at the Ofori Panin Fie with immediate effect.
Kyekyewere is located on Apedwa land along the Accra–Kumasi highway, between Asuboi and Teacher Mante, within the Kraboa Coaltar District in the Eastern Region.
Historically, the community has been predominantly settled by people of Larteh origin from Akuapem.
Owing to this demographic composition, a native of Larteh extraction traditionally served as the Odikro of the town with the title “Baffour.”
In recognition of the town’s growth and importance, the Okyenhene later elevated the Kyekyewere stool from an Odikroship to a full chieftaincy, conferring the title “Barima” on its occupant.
Administratively and traditionally, Kyekyewere forms part of Apedwa land, which is a recognized member of the Okyeman Benkum Division and the Amantuomiensa Forces of Okyeman.
By this arrangement, Kyekyewere is automatically aligned with the Benkum Division and the Amantuomiensa, and the Kyekyewerehene has consistently taken his place with the Amantuomiensa at State Council meetings.
Until the recent controversy, Barima Okunini Gyebi Kwame Ababio was a duly recognized Okyeman chief under the authority of the Okyenhene and the Okyeman Council.
Tensions escalated when the Kyekyewerehene reportedly registered himself as an Akuapem chief and mounted large billboards in Kyekyewere bearing the images of the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akufo III, and the Okuapeman Krontihene, Osahene Boafo Ansah.
These actions, according to the Okyeman leadership, created a public impression that Kyekyewere had shifted its traditional allegiance from Akyem to Akuapem—an assertion the Okyenhene categorically rejected.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin described the conduct as a betrayal of trust, stressing that the opportunity granted to Barima Okunini Gyebi Kwame Ababio to serve as a chief on Akyem land could not be abused to undermine the authority of the Akyem stool.
The Okyenhene emphasized that chieftaincy allegiance is not a matter of convenience but one rooted in history, land ownership, and established traditional jurisdiction.
With the destoolment pronounced, the Kyekyewere stool has officially been declared vacant.
Arrangements are expected to be initiated by the appropriate traditional authorities in accordance with custom to select a new occupant who will uphold the traditions, allegiance, and authority of Okyeman.
