A pressure group calling itself Concerned Residents of Kwahu has urged Dr. Bryan Acheampong to withdraw from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential flagbearership race, accusing him of allegedly orchestrating and sponsoring the protracted chieftaincy dispute in Kwahu in the Eastern Region.
According to the group, their demand is based on claims made by Opare Ansah, a leading NPP member, who alleged that Dr. Acheampong once threatened to boycott the party’s campaign activities in the Eastern Region during the 2024 electioneering period.
In a video clip from an interview on Asempa FM, Opare Ansah said that Dr. Acheampong warned party officials against paying a courtesy call on the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II, during a campaign tour to Abetifi.
“Bryan helped us in the Eastern Region, but he also caused harm at some point. On the day we were going to Abetifi, the regional chairman sent me a message saying that if we made the mistake of going to greet the Kwahumanhene, he (Dr. Bryan Acheampong) would boycott both the Kwahu and Abetifi programmes,” Opare Ansah stated.
He further noted that tensions between Dr. Acheampong and the Kwahumanhene had spilled over into party politics at the time.
Owusu Nketiah, Convener of Concerned Residents of Kwahu, said the statement by Opare Ansah confirmed what they describe as long-held intelligence that Dr. Bryan Acheampong played a key role in the failed attempt to destool the Kwahumanhene—an episode they claim has plunged Kwahu into prolonged chieftaincy disputes, thereby stalling development in the area.
In an interview with the media, the group argued: “Such a character does not deserve to lead a political party such as the NPP.” They stressed that internal unity and respect for traditional authority are critical for national leadership.
The group further warned that the NPP risks losing the massive electoral support it has consistently enjoyed from the Kwahu area since 1992—where the party is considered a stronghold—should Dr. Bryan Acheampong emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.
They therefore urged the leadership of the NPP to take the concerns of the people of Kwahu seriously in order to protect the party’s electoral fortunes and preserve peace in the traditional area.
Background
Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II, born Eugene Kwasi Asante Boadi, is a chartered accountant who was lawfully nominated, selected, and enstooled as Kwahuhene on June 5, 2017, following the passing of Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II on September 9, 2014. His name was duly entered into the National Register of Chiefs and gazetted on September 28, 2017.
Despite his recognition and active performance of customary and statutory functions as Kwahuhene, some kingmakers performed rites to declare him destooled. They claimed that Daasebre had brought disrepute to the stool following his resignation as Board Chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) after allegations of financial impropriety were levelled against him by a businessman in October 2025.
Baffuor Akoto Osei was purportedly enstooled in January 2025 under the stool name Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III to replace Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II. With the aid of heavily armed men, he occupied the Abene Palace, the traditional headquarters of the Kwahu Traditional Area, and warned Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II not to step onto the palace grounds.
However, some chiefs and elders of Kwahu strongly disagreed with the destoolment. Nana Kwaku Boateng, the Etena/Bretuo Abusuapanyin, contended that the Chieftaincy Act (2008), Act 759, requires that a lawful process be followed before a chief can be removed. He said the kingmakers acted in violation of both tradition and the law in attempting to destool Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II.
On May 5, 2025, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II filed a motion seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain Baffuor Akoto Osei from holding himself out as Kwahuhene.
The Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs granted the injunction, restraining Baffuor Akoto Osei and six others—including the Krontihene of Abene, Nana Simpe Owiredu III, and the Akyeamehene of Abene, Nana Asiedu Kwabeng IV—from interfering in the functions and authority of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II as Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, pending the final determination of the substantive case.
The ruling, delivered on June 24, 2025, at a sitting in Koforidua, ordered all respondents and their agents to refrain from interfering with the status, duties, or activities of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II as Kwahuhene. It also restrained Baffuor Akoto Osei from holding himself out as Kwahuhene or performing any function at the Abene Palace.
On November 17, 2025, the police carried out an operation to enforce the Judicial Committee ruling, restoring Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II to the palace.
