The Coaltar Traditional Council has strongly condemned the actions of Kyebi-Apapamhene Okogyeaman Apagya Fori, who performed rituals claiming to destool the Chief of Coaltar, Barima Okekrebesi Asiedu II.
The council emphasizes that in modern times, a chief cannot be destooled simply by slaughtering a sheep or pouring libation.
According to the council, Okogyeaman Apagya Fori has no authority to destool the chief, as he is not a kingmaker. The council states that the chief’s removal requires a formal process, involving the preferment of destoolment charges by the majority of kingmakers, investigation, and compliance with natural justice rules.
A Statement from the Coaltar Traditional Council
The Coaltar Traditional Council issued a statement condemning the actions of Okogyeaman Apagya Fori. The statement reads: “The Traditional council completely dissociates itself from this dastardly and illegal conduct of the chief… In this modern day and age, a chief cannot be destooled by merely slaughtering a sheep, pouring libation or removing a chief’s sandals which are outmoded and antiquated practices.”
The Legal and Customary Requirements of Destoolment
The council stated that a chief could not be destooled through public demonstration, the beating of the gong-gong, invocation of an oath or public notification in the media, since those did not satisfy the legal and customary requirements of destoolment. The council cited Section 40 sub-section (1) of the Chieftaincy Act 2008 (Act 759), which states: “A person is not entitled under this act to institute proceedings for the deposition of chief unless that person is entitled to do so under the customs of the area concerned.”
The Position of the Chief of Coaltar
The council emphasized that Barima Okekrebesi Asiedu II remains the substantive chief of Coaltar Traditional Area. The council cited Justice S. A Brobbey’s book, “The Law of Chieftaincy in Ghana,” which notes that a chief can be destooled only through the preferment of destoolment charges against him by the majority of kingmakers, investigation into the destoolment charges, compliance with the rules of natural justice, and when the actual customary process of destoolment has been performed.
The Conduct of Okogyeaman Apagya Fori
The council pointed out that the conduct of Okogyeaman Apagya Fori had the intent of causing fear and panic in the traditional area and, therefore, constituted a criminal offense under the criminal code of Ghana.
The council reported the conduct of Okogyeaman Apagya Fori to the police and called on the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, the Regional and National House of Chiefs to mount an extensive national education on the process of enstoolment and enskinment, as well as destoolment and enskinment of chiefs in the country.
Conclusion
The Coaltar Traditional Council has condemned the actions of Okogyeaman Apagya Fori, who claimed to have destooled the Chief of Coaltar, Barima Okekrebesi Asiedu II. The council emphasizes that the chief’s removal requires a formal process, involving the preferment of destoolment charges by the majority of kingmakers, investigation, and compliance with natural justice rules.
The council has reported the conduct of Okogyeaman Apagya Fori to the police and called for national education on the process of enstoolment and enskinment, as well as destoolment and enskinment of chiefs in the country.
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