In a fiery statement that has sparked widespread reactions on social media, Manye Kaa Okropong vowed to resist any attempt to impose what she describes as illegitimate leadership on her people, linking the controversy to alleged illegal mining (galamsey) activities threatening the area.
“Unless they kill me first, they can never harm my people again. We have our chiefs, and we will not sit down for a wicked galamsey operator to make himself chief over us just to destroy our beautiful settlement,” she declared.
Chieftaincy Legitimacy and Community Opposition
Otwebediadua, together with neighbouring villages including Adarkwa, Kopoanya, and Manyaa, has long maintained traditional leadership structures recognized by the community.
However, Nana Ansah Akomeah, currently based in Canada, has been laying claim to the chieftaincy of Otwebediadua. His claims have been strongly rejected by residents and traditional leaders, who insist that the community already has recognized traditional authorities.
Local leaders argue that any attempt to impose leadership without community consent undermines traditional governance and threatens peace and stability in the area.
Community’s Strong Stand Against Galamsey
Illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, has devastated many communities across Ghana, destroying farmlands, polluting water bodies, and displacing residents.
Manye Kaa Okropong insists that Otwebediadua has firmly rejected galamsey operations and accuses individuals behind the chieftaincy dispute of attempting to use power and influence to facilitate mining activities.
“We’ve said a big no to galamsey, and there’s nothing he can do about it. The evidence is there to back our case in court,” she stated.
She further alleged that attempts have been made to influence authorities, but vowed that the truth would prevail.
Call for Law Enforcement and Judicial Action
The Queen Mother warned that any attempt to forcefully impose leadership on the community would be resisted through legal means.
“The very day you come to Ghana and we hear of it, you will face the laws of the land,” she said.
Observers say the situation reflects a broader national challenge, where chieftaincy disputes are increasingly intertwined with illegal mining interests, leading to tension and insecurity in rural communities.
A Fight for Land, Peace, and Community Survival
For Manye Kaa Okropong and her supporters, the dispute is more than a leadership issue—it is a struggle to protect land, preserve community authority, and ensure a peaceful future for residents.
“I will fight all evil people off our village so my people can live in peace,” she concluded.
As the matter reportedly heads to court, residents of Otwebediadua and surrounding settlements are hoping for a resolution that will safeguard their land and protect it from environmental destruction.
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