Stop Dr. Chukwudi Ihenatu’s Igbo-Ghana King claim -Group petitions Nat’l House of Chiefs

Rising tensions in tradition: APEX Citizens petition House of Chiefs over ‘Igbo King’ in Ghana

In a move that underscores growing concerns over cultural identity, sovereignty, and national cohesion, a Ghanaian pressure group, APEX Citizens of Ghana, has formally petitioned the National House of Chiefs to take immediate action against a figure they describe as a growing threat to Ghana’s traditional and national fabric — His Royal Majesty Dr. Chuckwudu Jude Ihenetu, self-styled “Diaspora King of Ndigbo in Ghana.”

The petition, delivered on Thursday in Kumasi by the group’s executives, paints a picture of a foreign monarch whose influence, reach, and ambitions have grown well beyond ceremonial bounds — potentially veering into what the group calls “quasi-statecraft” within Ghana’s borders.

A call to action

At a press briefing following the presentation, the President of APEX Citizens, Mr. Gabriel Kwame Appiah, did not mince words. “If he is not called to order quickly, he will one day declare an Igbo state in Ghana,” he warned. “That may cause trouble in the future.”

According to the group, Dr. Ihenetu’s sustained self-presentation as a king — complete with yearly yam festivals, the enstoolment of sub-chiefs across multiple regions, and a grand vision of an “Igbo Village” on Ghanaian soil — poses a direct challenge to the country’s sovereignty, security, and cultural heritage.

The group claims that HRM Dr. Ihenetu has already acquired 50 acres of land along the Aflao road, within the Old Ningo area, where construction is allegedly planned for a sprawling complex. The blueprint reportedly includes a 100-room guest house, a town hall seating 2,000, and various Igbo-themed street names and monuments. For APEX Citizens, this amounts to the creation of a parallel authority on Ghanaian land — one they say must be halted.

The crux of the concern

At the heart of the petition is the question of legitimacy. Mr. Appiah questioned whether Dr. Ihenetu’s kingship holds any traditional weight either in Nigeria or in Ghana. “His name is not gazetted. He is not part of the national register of chiefs. If he was enstooled, was it as a full Chief, honorary King, or purely ceremonial title devoid of any stool rights or authority within GA customary jurisdiction?” he asked.

He further alleged that Ihenetu does not descend from any recognized royal lineage in Igboland, raising red flags over his self-bestowed title and the growing structure of traditional authority he is reportedly building around it.

In Ghana, chieftaincy is a deeply structured institution governed by constitutional, legal, and customary frameworks. The creation of leadership structures — especially by foreign nationals — without approval or recognition from the National House of Chiefs or traditional councils, is not only unusual but potentially illegal.

Cultural diplomacy or cultural encroachment?

Supporters of Dr. Ihenetu argue that his role is largely ceremonial and is meant to unify the Igbo diaspora in Ghana under cultural festivals and community activities. His annual Yam Festival, held in Accra, draws Igbos from across the globe and is viewed by some as a celebration of diversity rather than a threat to national identity.

However, for APEX Citizens, the scale and ambition of his undertakings tell a different story — one of soft expansionism through culture, gradually sowing the seeds of a de facto Igbo kingdom in Ghana.

“He has made himself the center of influx of Nigerians into the country, especially the Igbos,” said Appiah. “He must be stopped, else if they take over, it will not be good for this country.”

A complex web of identity and law

This episode raises broader questions about diaspora identity, the boundaries of traditional authority, and the role of the state in mediating cultural representation within national borders. Can an individual from another country hold and wield traditional power in Ghana? Where does cultural representation end and sovereign authority begin?

For now, the ball is in the court of the National House of Chiefs, which must now grapple with these pressing concerns and determine whether Dr. Ihenetu’s activities violate Ghanaian customary protocols or are simply misunderstood cultural diplomacy.

One thing is clear: the APEX Citizens’ petition has stirred a conversation that reaches far beyond the scope of a single individual. It touches the core of Ghana’s national consciousness, raising issues that challenge the balance between hospitality, multiculturalism, and national identity.

As the story unfolds, the country watches closely — for the outcome may well set a precedent for how Ghana navigates the increasingly complex landscape of traditional authority in a globalized era.

Source: Enock Akonnor | www.leakyghana.com