Tension is mounting at Akyem Akroso in the Eastern Region over the alleged sale of the community’s sacred royal cemetery, used for the burial of chiefs, by the Akrosohene, Nana Kwabena Ofori II, to an investor for the construction of a shopping mall.

Five leading members of the royal Toa Number One clan, namely John Asare, R. K. Duodu, Kwasi Acheampong, Kwame Opare and Yaw Arhin, have urged the Akrosohene and the investor to abandon their decision or face their wrath.

They stressed that they would use every possible means to recover the sold sacred cemetery, which contained the mortal remains of their ancestors. They warned that any resistance would result in disaster.

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However, the Akrosohene, Nana Kwabena Ofori, has dismissed the allegations and explained that the royal cemetery was abandoned about 25 years ago, following an order from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the traditional council to relocate it because it was near a stream.

He said that, in consultation with the Toa Number One royal clan, including the Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu Botwe, a new cemetery had been created at Akyem Bantama near Akroso, where three sub-chiefs had been buried.

Counter claim

A spokesperson for the concerned Toa Number One clan, John Asare, quickly debunked the Akrosohene's claim that the royal cemetery had been abandoned over 25 years ago and a new one created in its place.

He emphasised that since the remains of their royals, including Nana Yaw Darkwah I, Nana Yaw Darkwah III, Nana Kwaku Addai and Ohemaa Botwe, some of the area's greatest leaders, were in the royal cemetery, they would not allow anyone to desecrate the place.

He said Nana Kwasi Adanse was the last chief buried in the royal cemetery about four years ago.

Mr Asare said the clan had decided to wall the royal cemetery to prevent intruders from entering and committing any illegal activity there.

He alleged that the Akrosohene had always taken unilateral decisions concerning the development of the town without consulting the elders of the community, hence the slow pace of the community's progress.

Leased, not sold

Nana Ofori, for his part, stressed that he did not sell the old cemetery to the investor but leased it for the construction of a shopping mall, with a promise to create jobs for 50 unemployed youth from the community.

He said that since his installation over 22 years ago, he had never sold or signed off on any plot of land to anyone, and challenged those making allegations against him to present concrete evidence to debunk his claim.

Nana Ofori emphasised that he, his sub-chiefs and elders were development-oriented and that, through their efforts, the town could now boast directorates of the District Health

Directorate, the office of the Electoral Commission, the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Ambulance Service, the Narcotic Control Commission, among other decentralised departments.

He stated that they were also providing buildings to accommodate the district police command and barracks for the Ghana police.

The Akrosohene challenged his accusers, who were also leading members of the royal clan, to prove to the people their contribution to the development of Akroso.