Do not tarnish your legacy – Okuapehemaa to Sophia Akuffo
Rising Tension in the Akuapem Traditional Area
The Office of the Okuapehemaa, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II, has publicly cautioned former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo over reports suggesting she is set to be enstooled as Mmrahene of the Akuapem Traditional Area.
According to a statement issued on Monday, the Queenmother’s office expressed deep concern about the planned ceremony, which is reportedly scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The statement argued that the process is surrounded by unresolved legal disputes and controversies rooted in Akuapem customary law. The development has stirred fresh debate within traditional and legal circles, especially because of the high-profile personalities involved.
Disputed Authority at the Centre of the Ceremony
The statement pointed specifically to Odehye Kwadwo Kesse, who is expected to conduct the enstoolment ceremony.
However, the Okuapehemaa’s office insists that his authority to act as Okuapehene remains legally contested. It argued that previous rulings by traditional judicial bodies questioned the legitimacy of his installation.
According to the statement, the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs delivered a ruling on April 30, 2020, clearly outlining the proper customary procedures required for selecting and enstooling an Okuapehene.
Customary Procedures Allegedly Ignored
The ruling, as referenced in the statement, emphasized that the process must involve key traditional stakeholders, including:
The Abrewatia of the relevant ruling house
The Asonahene
The Queenmother
Elderly female representatives of the royal family
The Okuapehemaa’s office argued that these customary requirements were allegedly ignored during the purported enstoolment of Odehye Kwadwo Kesse.
It further maintained that this position was later affirmed by the Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs, strengthening claims that the process failed to comply with Akuapem tradition.
Contempt Convictions Deepen the Controversy
Adding to the tension, the statement disclosed that contempt proceedings were later initiated at the High Court in Koforidua against Odehye Kwadwo Kesse and Lily Agyemang. According to the release, both individuals were found guilty of contempt and fined GH¢10,000 each. Although the fines were reportedly paid, the statement alleged that they had still failed to fully purge themselves of the contempt. The office further revealed that an attempt to overturn the High Court’s ruling through a certiorari application at the Supreme Court was unanimously dismissed on February 20, 2024. That decision, the statement said, effectively upheld the jurisdiction of the High Court and left the contempt convictions standing.
A Plea to Protect a Distinguished Reputation
Despite the strong legal concerns raised, the statement adopted a respectful tone toward Justice Sophia Akuffo.
The Okuapehemaa’s office described her as one of Ghana’s most distinguished legal minds and internationally respected jurists whose contribution to constitutional governance and the rule of law remains significant. It therefore appealed to her to reconsider any involvement in the reported enstoolment. According to the statement, associating herself with a process clouded by unresolved legal and customary disputes could potentially affect the reputation and legacy she has built over decades of public service.
Preserving Tradition and Avoiding Conflict
The office stressed that its statement was not intended as a personal attack on the former Chief Justice. Rather, it said the aim was to preserve the sanctity of Akuapem customs and traditions while preventing respected national figures from becoming entangled in unresolved chieftaincy disputes. It also urged the media, the public, and all stakeholders to take note of the legal implications surrounding the planned enstoolment ceremony.
National Attention on a Sensitive Matter
The controversy has attracted widespread public interest because it sits at the intersection of traditional authority, customary law, and national legal history. With a respected former Chief Justice involved and longstanding disputes over the Okuapehene stool still unresolved, the situation is likely to remain a major topic of discussion within Ghana’s traditional and political landscape in the coming days.
