The notion that the Offinso queen mother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, has been dethroned by the Asante paramount chief, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, seems unfamiliar to many locals in the area.
As a result, a significant number of residents have gathered at her residence to call for the appointment of a new chief.
The Asantehene officially removed the queen mother from her position due to insubordination in January 2024.
Expressing their discontent and demanding a new leader for the Offinso traditional area, these concerned residents are advocating for Dr. KK Sarpong to assume the role, as he was initially endorsed by the kingmakers.
Most of these residents, who wore funeral clothes to portray their seriousness and sadness over the claim of ‘no chief in the town’, chanted, “We want our new chief, K.K. Sarpong”.
In a video post by ASIASE TV, the aggrieved residents were captured singing and chanting “Ofinso Hemaa, yeegye yen hene, Kurontihene, yeegye yen hene, Abusuapanin, yeegye yen hene,” which means, “Queen mother and her elders, we want our new chief.”
Amid the blowing of horns and singing of songs to demand a new chief, some youth were also captured in a video along the streets of the Offinso township, chanting for a new chief.
Some residents spoke to journalists in an interview, and said: “Recently, we saw the Offinso manhemaa and her elders choose Dr. K. K. Sarpong. But a few weeks later, we can’t see anything, and we don’t understand what is happening.
“We’ve been waiting for him to come and help develop Offinso, and we know he is capable of developing and providing jobs for the youth. Day in and day out, every youth cries for Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong to become the Offinso chief; we know no one apart from KK.”
“He is the one we know the queen mother has chosen. Even now that he has not been installed, there are lots of things he’s done. Currently, as I speak, he’s catering for my children’s school, and there are many others he’s doing the same for,” another resident said.
Many of those interviewed expressed sorrow over the lack of development in the town since the passing of Nana Wiafe Akenteng.
After leaving the queen mother’s residence, the disgruntled residents and some members of the Ahyirem Royal Family visited Nana Kwabena Agyeibi Obeng, a representative of the Ahyirem Abusuapanin, seeking clarification.
Among their concerns was the whereabouts of Dr. KK Sarpong.
Speaking to the media, Nana Agyeibi Obeng assured the residents that he and his elders would make efforts to bring back Dr. KK Sarpong.
He praised Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko for standing firm in her belief that Dr. KK Sarpong was the rightful candidate for the throne.
He pledged to support the queen mother’s cause, which he viewed as noble, to install Dr. KK Sarpong as the chief of Offinso.
Background:
Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong was initially nominated by the Ofinso queen mother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, and other kingmakers to succeed the late Nana Wiafe Akenteng.
However, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II disqualified him for not having royal lineage.
Subsequently, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II enstooled a new chief, Nana Amoako Poku, after Kwakwaboa Abusuapanin, Opanin Yaw Nkrumah Adusah, assumed the queen mother’s duties and presented the new candidate.
During the installation of the new chief, there were rumours that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had destooled the queen mother of Offinso for failing to heed his summons. However, the actions of the aggrieved residents suggest that they still recognize her authority.
Some residents interviewed by journalists claimed they had not witnessed the queen mother being destooled.
