Principal Kingmakers and Elders of Kokrobite community in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region are furious at the Chief Fisherman of Kokrobite, Nii Adotei Akwei IV, and Head of Ardey Nkpa family, Nii Daniel Ardey Tagoe.
The anger of the elders stems from what they say is persistent behaviour of both Adotei Akwei IV and Mr Tagoe to meddle themselves in the chieftaincy and traditional affairs of Kokrobite.
That move, the kingmakers and elders of Kokrobite, lamented was creating tension and confusion in the area.
At a crowded press conference in Kokrobite yesterday, the kingmakers and elders issued a stern warning to Adotei Akwei IV to stop his continuous habit of interfering in the chieftaincy and traditional affairs of the area.
Flanked by the Principal Elder, Nii Ahene, Family Head, Nii Martey Din, Kingmakers— Nii Okyeame Apaa, Nii Arday Ansah II, and War Commander, Nii Aba III, Chief of Kokrobite, Nii Ofei III, stressed that failure by Nii Adotei Akwei IV to heed their warning would incur their wrath.
“We are ‘born and bred’ in Kokrobite community under the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area in James Town, Accra, so no one should come from outside the town to tell us what pertains here or the history of the town,” they stressed.
The warning by the kingmakers and elders to Adotei Akwei IV was in a reaction of what they described as “unguided and abusive” statements made by him [Adotei Akwei IV] to the effect that Nii Ofei III was not the Chief of Kokrobite.
At a press conference last Tuesday, Adotei Akwei IV declared that Nii Ofei III was not the legitimate person to ascend the Kokrobite throne, adding that “no one had installed a chief in Kokrobite.”
But in a sharp rebuttal, Nii Ofei III rubbished the claims of Adotei Akwei IV and Mr Tagoe and described them as “trouble makers.”
He stated categorically that the Ardey Nkpa family of Kokrobite does not have capacity and the traditional authority to install a chief for Kokrobite.
According to him, the traditional projections and privileges were invested in the hands of Nii Ofei of Kokrobite.
“I am the Chief of Kokrobite community under the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area in James Town…so where was the Ardey Nkpa family who are now challenging my chieftaincy status and trying to portray a picture that no one has been installed a chief here,” he noted.
He pointed out that Nii Ofei family is the one mandated to install a chief of Kokrobite and that has been duly done without question and sealed and approved by the Paramount Chief of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area, Obrempong Nii Ababio V.
“I want to put on record that Obrempong Kojo Ababio V endorsed and witnessed his position as chief just as his predecessors were approved by him [Obrempong Nii Kojo Ababio V.]”
He, therefore, appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to call members of the Nii Ardey Nkapa family, headed by Nii Daniel Ardey Tagoe, to order so as to avoid any bloodshed in the area.
Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with Today, Mr Tagoe provided historical documentary evidence and court judgments to back his claims that indeed Nii Ofei had never been nominated, elected, selected and installed as a Sub-Chief of Kokrobite in accordance with the relevant traditions and customs by the elders of Nii Ardey family.
He indicated that Nii Ofei “has no right of claim to the Kokrobite Stool.”
He further advised the general public to desist from doing business with such a person in the name of Nii Ardey Family.
For his part, Chief Fisherman of Kokrobite, Adotei Akwei IV, debunked the allegation that he mentioned Nii Ofei III’s name during his press conference.
“Let me make it clear that I did not at any point during my press conference mentioned the name of Nii Ofei III, and more importantly I am not meddling in Kokrobite chieftaincy matters,” Adotei Akwei IV stressed.
Story: Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu