New Juaben tensions: royal family detained

The atmosphere in New Juaben is filled with unease as law enforcement officers forcefully enter the sacred royal stool chamber, apprehending various family members. A group, reportedly led by the New Juaben divisional police commander, forcefully entered the Adwampong royal family’s stool room in Koforidua. The clash occurred when the queen mother of the Adwampong royal family opposed the unauthorized removal of the black stool.

This black stool holds significant importance for the upcoming enstoolment ceremony of a new Chief for the family, scheduled to occur on Thursday, February 1st, at the Yiadom Hwedie Palace, under the leadership of Daasebere Kwaku Boateng III.

The queen mother, Nana Akosua Afrakoma, who has been the steward of the stool for the past 29 years, voiced her objections as she claimed to be uninformed about the identity of the supposed chief to be enstooled and stated that she did not nominate him.

However, with the guidance of Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Baah, currently acting as the divisional commander and supervising the group, the Koforidua District Police forcibly accessed the stool room and changed the locks, alongside heavily armed personnel from the Counter Terrorism Unit.

Expressing her disappointment in the district police’s actions, Nana Afrakoma II urged the involvement of the Regional Security Council and the National Security Minister to prevent any violent incidents. She explained, “I received a call this morning that they attempted to steal the stool yesterday but faced resistance. Now, they have brought the police to break into my property this morning. For the past 29 years, I have not recognized any of them. I am unaware of the enstoolment they are pursuing. They have unlawfully stripped me of my authority, and I no longer visit the palace.”

Meanwhile, when the queen mother’s son and daughter went to the Koforidua Central Police Station as invited by Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Baah to file a formal complaint, they were instead detained.