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 pending the final determination of a longstanding chieftaincy dispute before the courts and the Houses of Chiefs.
The family said proceeding with the festival while the dispute remained unresolved could heighten tensions and threaten peace and security in the community.
In a press statement issued on October 1, 2026, the family appealed to festival organisers, traditional authorities, security agencies and other relevant institutions to prioritise peace by suspending the celebration until all outstanding legal matters were resolved.
The statement said the family remained the legitimate matrilineal custodians of the Gomoa Wassa Odikro stool, tracing its historical ownership to Nana Oguaa I, who founded the stool.
It explained that the Judicial Committee of the Gomoa Assin Traditional Council, in a ruling delivered on April 22, 1988, in Suit Number 13/87, affirmed the family’s claim to the stool through matrilineal succession.
According to the family, the ruling established that the paternal Takyina lineage had occupied the stool only in a caretaker capacity.
The family said although the judgment had not been overturned on its merits, subsequent legal developments had prolonged the dispute.
It indicated that Alexander Ekwow Nyankson was installed as Odikro in 2024 while an appeal against the earlier judgment was pending.
However, the Central Regional House of Chiefs reportedly nullified the installation on December 10, 2024, on the grounds that the pending appeal operated as an automatic stay under the Chieftaincy Act, 2008.
The statement further indicated 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 subsequently appealed that decision to the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi and filed a separate application before the Cape Coast High Court challenging the ruling.
It maintained that the pending proceedings prevented any individual from legitimately exercising the functions of Odikro or Gyaasehene until the legal processes were concluded.
The family also questioned the registration of Mr Nyankson in the National Register of Chiefs on March 27, 2025, despite what it described as an earlier nullification of his installation.
It said it had requested certified copies of the registration documents from the National House of Chiefs to support its ongoing legal proceedings.
The statement alleged that Mr Nyankson and Mr 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.
It said contempt proceedings involving the two men remained pending before the court after an application seeking their dismissal was rejected.
The family expressed concern over reports that the two individuals intended to participate in traditional processions during the Akwambo Festival, warning that such activities could aggravate existing tensions.
It further alleged that some family members had experienced threats and intimidation in connection with the dispute.
According to the statement, a complaint involving 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 said the allegations remained under investigation and appealed to the police to ensure that those responsible for any unlawful acts were brought to justice.
It urged the Ghana Police Service and other relevant state institutions to enforce existing court orders and prevent actions that could undermine peace in the community.
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 means.
It appealed to residents, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to support a peaceful resolution rather than allow the festival to become a source of confrontation.
The family reiterated that the Akwambo Festival, which is intended to promote unity, cultural identity and community development, should not become a platform for deepening divisions.
It therefore called for restraint and respect for judicial processes in the interest of lasting peace and stability in Gomoa Wassa.
