Effiduase in the New Juaben Traditional Area is on edge as controversy brews over the sale of a portion of public cemetery land-used to bury COVID-19 victims-to a private developer for GH₵700,000 to build a church.
The sale has triggered fierce resistance, leading to the alleged destoolment of the Ekuasehene, Okatakyie Opoku Oware, who has been vocal in opposing the move.
Effiduasehene Nana Okowia Dwumo Baabu announced the destoolment on Sunday at the palace, accusing the Ekuasehene of insubordination.
But his declaration was swiftly dismissed by the Ekuase Bretuo Royal Family, who argued that the Effiduasehene has no traditional authority to remove their chief. "The Ekuase stool is a family stool, not subject to the authority of the Effiduasehene," said Opanyin Kwame Nyarko, head of the Bretuo family. "Only the Bretuo Royal Family holds the customary right to enstool or destool our chief.
