Akufo-Addo’s sister jumps out of Akwamu chieftaincy crisis…Becomes Abrewatia of Akropong-Akuapem

Marigold Nana Abena Oye Akufo-Addo, a sister to President Akufo-Addo, who was alleged to be one of the many sources of the confusion in Akwamu, has become the Abrewatia of Benkum Kyeame Abusua of Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region.

She has taken the role in her father’s hometown of Akropong-Akuapem, although she had been linked to the Akwamufie chieftaincy crisis and schemes to use state power and National Security operatives, the Asuogyaman District Assembly to destool the Gazetted Ohemaa of the Bekai Stool of Akwamufie in the Eastern Region, Nana Asaa Safoa II, known in private life as Mrs. Adelaide Duncan Olabaju.

Nana Asaa Safoa II, remains banned from entering the Akwamufie by Asuogyaman District Security Council with a claim that her security cannot be guaranteed in the area. She has since 2018, not been able to meet with her people.

But reports are that a colourful ceremony, reflecting a fusion of culture and a commitment to community, saw the Omanhene of the Akuapem traditional area (Okuapehene), receiving Marigold as the Abrewatia of Benkum Kyeame Abusua of Akropong-Akuapem.

An artist, entrepreneur and cultural advocate, Marigold is an art and culture advocate whose journey embodies a profound commitment to her heritage.

In her role as the Abrewatia, she becomes the matriarch who represents the Benkum Kyeame royal family in matters concerning chieftaincy, innovation, progress and the wellbeing of Okuapeman.

The ceremony’s series of activities, which were steeped in a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and historical significance, included a wreath-laying ceremony, private and public conferment ceremonies and a thanksgiving service.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, family members and friends, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, chiefs and clergy from across the country.

Named after her great-grandmother, Nana Oye Mansa, mother of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa I, Madam Marigold plays an active role in her Akuapem community by helping to solve problems and fostering unity. She is often referred to as “Abrewatia a odi Amantrasa” in recognition of her civic leadership in Akwamufie, Okuapeman and Ahenease (Akyem).

Educated at Ghana International School, Ashford School for Girls in Kent, England and the Cranbourne Chase School in Tisbury, England, Marigold refined her artistic skills and eventually earned her Fine Art degree from the Slade School of Fine Art, University College of London.

She’s worked as a display artist at the Ghana Museum and Monument and has curated exhibitions in Ghana, Sierra Leone, England, USA and South Africa. She established Lamra Studios and Galleries in 1975 and has participated in several international trade shows.

She served on the Board of the Commission on Culture from 2003 to 2007 and is currently the chairperson of the Creative Industries Project Ghana (CIPG). In 2012, she founded Kasafie Foundation, an organization that provides therapy to children living with autism.

“I stand on the shoulders of generations of matriarchs who have preceded me in serving Okuapeman and I will do everything within my power to help Okuapeman tap into the boundless possibilities that lie ahead,” Marigold said.

In November, 2019, Marigold came under the spotlight over the Akwamu chieftaincy crisis announcing that she is aware that the Bekai family had performed the required traditional customs to destool the Queen mother of the Bekai Stool.

In a statement, she had said “I, Madam Marigold Akufo-Addo, states categorically that in my personal capacity, I have not initiated any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, to destool any person in either Akwamu or Akwamufie. As far as I am aware, the whole Bekai family, consisting of the family in Abomosu/Kyebi, Kwahu, Akropong, Akwamufie, Anum and Anlo, have performed the required traditional custom to destool the Queen mother of the Bekai Stool Akwamufie”.

Her announcement that Nana Asaa Safoa II, had been destooled, came despite a judicial proceedings at the Akwamu Traditional Council, including an injunction preventing Marigold Akufo-Addo and her group, from going ahead with the destoolment.

Nana Asaa Safoa II, had been gazetted and recognized by the National House of Chief.

Nana Asaa Safoa II, had among others, prayed the Akwamu Traditional Council for “an interlocutory injunction to restrain the petitioners/respondents whether by themselves or their agents, privies or any of them or otherwise howsoever from nominating/ electing / selecting/ enstooling or installing a Queen mother of the Bekai Stool or promoting, projecting, presenting anyone as the Queen Mother of the Bekai Stool pending the final determination of this suit upon the grounds contained in the accompanying affidavit and for such order (s) as this Honourable Court may deem meet”.

Nana Asaa Safoa’s lawyers; Amoako Adjei Consult led by lawyer K. Amoako Adjei in their 16 point statement of claim said that “Until and unless I have been lawfully removed as the queen mother, there cannot be any nomination, election enstoolment of another queen mother on my stool”.

Earlier reports had said that Marigold, with the help of state security, worked to be enstool as queen mother of the area. She was forcefully removed. Pictures were seen of the military men in Akwamu, said to have been sent there by her to cause trouble in her attempt to become the Queen Mother; something she had rejected in the past when it was vacant.

But Madam Marigold, had hit back denying ever initiating any proceedings to destool any person in Akwamufie and making attempts to cause confusion, mayhem, and bloodshed in the house.

Marigold, in a statement said at the time said following her continuous disrespect to the family, the whole Bekai family consisting of the family in Abomuso, Kyebi, Keanu, Akropong, Akwamufie, Anum and Anlo, performed the required traditional customs to destool her as queenmother of the Bekai stool of Akwamufie.

She said she was not a candidate for queen mother or any other traditional office. Marigold further stated that she has not organized any persons to create confusion or perpetuate violence in Akwamufie.

She also stated that, she never took any such decision be it judicial or otherwise, to destool the said Queen mother but that, her destoolment was an agreed decision per the customs by all the Bekai families.

Marigold Nana Abena Oye Akufo-Addo, a sister to President Akufo-Addo, who was alleged to be one of the many sources of the confusion in Akwamu, has become the Abrewatia of Benkum Kyeame Abusua of Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region.

She has taken the role in her father’s hometown of Akropong-Akuapem, although she had been linked to the Akwamufie chieftaincy crisis and schemes to use state power and National Security operatives, the Asuogyaman District Assembly to destool the Gazetted Ohemaa of the Bekai Stool of Akwamufie in the Eastern Region, Nana Asaa Safoa II, known in private life as Mrs. Adelaide Duncan Olabaju.

Nana Asaa Safoa II, remains banned from entering the Akwamufie by Asuogyaman District Security Council with a claim that her security cannot be guaranteed in the area. She has since 2018, not been able to meet with her people.

But reports are that a colourful ceremony, reflecting a fusion of culture and a commitment to community, saw the Omanhene of the Akuapem traditional area (Okuapehene), receiving Marigold as the Abrewatia of Benkum Kyeame Abusua of Akropong-Akuapem.

An artist, entrepreneur and cultural advocate, Marigold is an art and culture advocate whose journey embodies a profound commitment to her heritage.

In her role as the Abrewatia, she becomes the matriarch who represents the Benkum Kyeame royal family in matters concerning chieftaincy, innovation, progress and the wellbeing of Okuapeman.

The ceremony’s series of activities, which were steeped in a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and historical significance, included a wreath-laying ceremony, private and public conferment ceremonies and a thanksgiving service.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, family members and friends, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, chiefs and clergy from across the country.

Named after her great-grandmother, Nana Oye Mansa, mother of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa I, Madam Marigold plays an active role in her Akuapem community by helping to solve problems and fostering unity. She is often referred to as “Abrewatia a odi Amantrasa” in recognition of her civic leadership in Akwamufie, Okuapeman and Ahenease (Akyem).

Educated at Ghana International School, Ashford School for Girls in Kent, England and the Cranbourne Chase School in Tisbury, England, Marigold refined her artistic skills and eventually earned her Fine Art degree from the Slade School of Fine Art, University College of London.

She’s worked as a display artist at the Ghana Museum and Monument and has curated exhibitions in Ghana, Sierra Leone, England, USA and South Africa. She established Lamra Studios and Galleries in 1975 and has participated in several international trade shows.

She served on the Board of the Commission on Culture from 2003 to 2007 and is currently the chairperson of the Creative Industries Project Ghana (CIPG). In 2012, she founded Kasafie Foundation, an organization that provides therapy to children living with autism.

“I stand on the shoulders of generations of matriarchs who have preceded me in serving Okuapeman and I will do everything within my power to help Okuapeman tap into the boundless possibilities that lie ahead,” Marigold said.

In November, 2019, Marigold came under the spotlight over the Akwamu chieftaincy crisis announcing that she is aware that the Bekai family had performed the required traditional customs to destool the Queen mother of the Bekai Stool.

In a statement, she had said “I, Madam Marigold Akufo-Addo, states categorically that in my personal capacity, I have not initiated any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, to destool any person in either Akwamu or Akwamufie. As far as I am aware, the whole Bekai family, consisting of the family in Abomosu/Kyebi, Kwahu, Akropong, Akwamufie, Anum and Anlo, have performed the required traditional custom to destool the Queen mother of the Bekai Stool Akwamufie”.

Her announcement that Nana Asaa Safoa II, had been destooled, came despite a judicial proceedings at the Akwamu Traditional Council, including an injunction preventing Marigold Akufo-Addo and her group, from going ahead with the destoolment.

Nana Asaa Safoa II, had been gazetted and recognized by the National House of Chief.

Nana Asaa Safoa II, had among others, prayed the Akwamu Traditional Council for “an interlocutory injunction to restrain the petitioners/respondents whether by themselves or their agents, privies or any of them or otherwise howsoever from nominating/ electing / selecting/ enstooling or installing a Queen mother of the Bekai Stool or promoting, projecting, presenting anyone as the Queen Mother of the Bekai Stool pending the final determination of this suit upon the grounds contained in the accompanying affidavit and for such order (s) as this Honourable Court may deem meet”.

Nana Asaa Safoa’s lawyers; Amoako Adjei Consult led by lawyer K. Amoako Adjei in their 16 point statement of claim said that “Until and unless I have been lawfully removed as the queen mother, there cannot be any nomination, election enstoolment of another queen mother on my stool”.

Earlier reports had said that Marigold, with the help of state security, worked to be enstool as queen mother of the area. She was forcefully removed. Pictures were seen of the military men in Akwamu, said to have been sent there by her to cause trouble in her attempt to become the Queen Mother; something she had rejected in the past when it was vacant.

But Madam Marigold, had hit back denying ever initiating any proceedings to destool any person in Akwamufie and making attempts to cause confusion, mayhem, and bloodshed in the house.

Marigold, in a statement said at the time said following her continuous disrespect to the family, the whole Bekai family consisting of the family in Abomuso, Kyebi, Keanu, Akropong, Akwamufie, Anum and Anlo, performed the required traditional customs to destool her as queenmother of the Bekai stool of Akwamufie.

She said she was not a candidate for queen mother or any other traditional office. Marigold further stated that she has not organized any persons to create confusion or perpetuate violence in Akwamufie.

She also stated that, she never took any such decision be it judicial or otherwise, to destool the said Queen mother but that, her destoolment was an agreed decision per the customs by all the Bekai families.