Kingmakers of the Royal Oyoko Family in Kofikrom, Sefwi Akontombra District, have declared the town’s chief, Nana Kofi Tawiah II, destooled and persona non grata, citing allegations of assault, abuse of power, misuse of stool resources and breaches of tradition.
The announcement was made at a press conference in the Western North Region, where the kingmakers said the chief’s conduct had brought disgrace and disrepute to the Royal Oyoko Family, the Kofikrom stool and the people of Kofikrom.
They alleged that on 24 August 2026 Nana Kofi Tawiah II, together with his wife and children, physically and verbally assaulted the Queen Mother, Nana Yaa Dufie, the Abusuapanin, Nana Asare Preko, and others who had visited him over the alleged double sale of a parcel of land.
The matter was reported to Nsawora Police Station, according to the kingmakers. They also alleged that the chief had threatened the Queen Mother and had on other occasions incited young men, including people involved in illegal mining, against members of the royal family.
The kingmakers accused Nana Kofi Tawiah II of using stool resources for his personal benefit. They said proceeds from extensive logging on stool lands, which were meant to finance renovations to Kofikrom Palace, had not been used for that purpose.
He was also accused of extracting and selling gravel from parts of the community and keeping the proceeds. The group further alleged that he facilitated illegal mining on stool lands without the consent of the wider traditional leadership.
They said the mining had polluted the Tano, Ngohorako, Ekyiakwaa and Eboperi rivers, which they described as important sources of drinking water for residents. They also linked alleged multiple sales of stool lands to disputes and tension in the community.
The kingmakers accused the chief of violating Kofikrom customs, including practices involving sacred rivers and traditional oaths connected with mining. They further alleged that he had prepared sacred food without informing the Queen Mother, Abusuapanin and some kingmakers, describing that as an affront to traditional authority.
They cited a dispute over GH¢3,700 allegedly paid into the chief’s mobile money account by a timber company for a community development project at Bopa Nkwanta. The kingmakers said only GH¢2,000 was later offered to the community, which rejected it, while the full amount allegedly remained with Nana Kofi Tawiah II.
They also accused him of destooling the Odikro of Bopa Nkwanta after the latter raised concerns about the alleged sale of plots in the area.
The group said relations had deteriorated to the point where elders, kingmakers and royal family members who approached the chief about stool and community matters were allegedly insulted. They also criticised the condition of Kofikrom Palace, saying little had been done despite his occupation of it. Renovations to the bathroom, conference hall and compound were instead undertaken by the Queen Mother, they claimed.
Chief disputes declaration
In a phone interview, Nana Kofi Tawiah II rejected the declaration, saying the kingmakers did not have the authority to remove him. He maintained that the Paramount Chief was the proper authority to destool a chief under the applicable traditional arrangements.
He also referred to Ghana’s Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759). Section 40 states that proceedings for a chief’s deposition can be brought only by a person entitled to do so under the area’s customary law. It also requires a Traditional Council’s Judicial Committee to consider the charges and find the chief liable before a deposition, with the appropriate customary procedure and right of appeal preserved.
Nana Kofi Tawiah II said the allegations had been submitted to the paramountcy and that elders had instructed the parties to wait for the return of the Paramount Chief, who is away.
He alleged that the kingmakers proceeded despite that directive and insisted that he remains the legitimate Chief of Kofikrom.
