The Asona Royal Family of Gomoa Wassa in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region has called for the postponement of this year’s Akwambo Festival until a longstanding chieftaincy dispute is finally resolved by the courts and the Houses of Chiefs.
The family warned that proceeding with the celebration while the dispute remains unresolved could heighten tensions and threaten peace and security in the community.
In a press statement dated October 1, 2026, the family appealed to festival organisers, traditional authorities, security agencies and other relevant institutions to prioritise peace and suspend the celebration until all outstanding legal matters are concluded.
Background to the Chieftaincy Dispute
The Asona Royal Family maintained that it is the legitimate matrilineal custodian of the Gomoa Wassa Odikro stool, tracing its historical ownership to Nana Oguaa I, whom it identified as the founder of the stool.
According to the statement, the Judicial Committee of the Gomoa Assin Traditional Council, in a ruling delivered on April 22, 1988, in Suit No. 13/87, affirmed the family’s claim to the stool through matrilineal succession.
The family explained that the ruling established that the paternal Takyina lineage had occupied the stool in a caretaker capacity.
It further contended that although the judgment had not been overturned on its merits, subsequent legal developments had prolonged the dispute.
The statement indicated that Alexander Ekwow Nyankson was installed as Odikro in 2024 while an appeal against the earlier judgment was pending.
However, the family said the Central Regional House of Chiefs nullified the installation on December 10, 2024, on the grounds that the pending appeal operated as an automatic stay under the Chieftaincy Act, 2008.
It further stated that on April 8, 2026, the Regional House of Chiefs set aside the earlier proceedings on procedural grounds without determining the substantive ownership of the stool.
The family said it had since appealed the decision to the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi and filed a separate application at the Cape Coast High Court challenging the ruling.
It maintained that the pending legal proceedings meant that no individual should legitimately exercise the functions of Odikro or Gyaasehene until the relevant legal processes had been concluded.
Questions Over Registration and Traditional Authority
The Asona Royal Family also questioned the registration of Mr Nyankson in the National Register of Chiefs on March 27, 2025, despite what it described as the earlier nullification of his installation.
It said it had requested certified copies of the relevant registration documents from the National House of Chiefs to support its ongoing legal proceedings.
The statement further alleged that Mr Nyankson and Francis Essel had continued to present themselves publicly as Odikro and Gyaasehene, respectively, despite restraining orders reportedly issued against them by the Winneba High Court.
According to the family, contempt proceedings involving the two individuals remain pending before the court after an application seeking their dismissal was rejected.
The family expressed concern over reports that the two men intended to participate in traditional processions during this year’s Akwambo Festival, warning that such activities could aggravate existing tensions.
It also alleged that some members of the family had experienced threats and intimidation in connection with the chieftaincy dispute.
Alleged Assault and Appeal for Police Intervention
The statement disclosed that a complaint concerning the alleged abduction and assault of the family’s court representative in May 2026 had been referred to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for investigation.
The family stressed that the allegations remained under investigation and called on the police to ensure that anyone found responsible for unlawful acts was brought to justice.
It also urged the Ghana Police Service and other relevant state institutions to enforce existing court orders and prevent any actions that could undermine peace and security in Gomoa Wassa.
The family maintained that its decision to pursue the matter through the courts and the Houses of Chiefs demonstrated its commitment to resolving the dispute through lawful and constitutional means.
Call for Peace and Restraint
The Asona Royal Family appealed to residents, traditional leaders, festival organisers and other stakeholders to support a peaceful resolution of the dispute rather than allow the annual celebration to become a source of confrontation.
It emphasised that the Akwambo Festival, which is intended to promote unity, preserve cultural identity and advance community development, should not become a platform for deepening divisions among residents.
The family therefore called on all parties to exercise restraint, respect the judicial process and avoid actions that could inflame tensions while the legal proceedings remain pending.
It reiterated that the postponement of the festival would help protect lives, preserve the peace and create an environment conducive to the eventual resolution of the longstanding chieftaincy dispute.
The family concluded by urging all stakeholders to place the collective interest of Gomoa Wassa above individual interests and work towards lasting peace, stability and unity in the community.
