The Kwahuhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III, has been arrested following a dawn raid on the Kwahu Palace and the detention of the Queen Mother, Nana Adwoa Gyemfua, Citi News can confirm.
Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III, who was in Accra when he learned of the palace raid and the alleged abduction of the Queen Mother, reportedly drove to Kwahu on Monday morning, November 17, to assess the situation firsthand. Upon arrival, he was immediately taken into custody.
Sources indicate that the uniformed personnel who carried out the arrest were accompanied by the disputed Chief, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II.
The Nkawkaw and Kwahu Divisional Police Commands have stated that they were not aware of the operation. The National Security has confirmed the incident and deployed teams to the area to investigate and help restore calm in the community.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has ordered the immediate release of the Queen Mother of Kwahu, Nana Adwoa Gyamfua III, following a controversial dawn police operation that triggered tension in the Kwahu Traditional Area on Monday.
In a statement, the Ghana Police Service said the IGP has also directed the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the operation. Officers found culpable will be sanctioned.
Security has since been heightened across the Kwahu area to maintain calm. However, the Kwahu Traditional Council has strongly denied reports of an abduction, describing the claims as “entirely false.”
In a statement issued on Monday, the Council said the Queen Mother was not taken away by force and explained that the confusion stemmed from the enforcement of a court order.
According to the Council, police officers were acting on an interlocutory injunction issued by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on 24 June 2024.
The Council maintained that the operation was lawful, but acknowledged that the lack of clarity around the police presence created tension among residents.
The IGP’s directive to release the Queen Mother and launch an internal investigation is seen as an attempt to de-escalate the situation and address public concerns over the conduct of officers during the early-morning raid.
Meanwhile, the Police Service says additional personnel have been deployed “in and around Kwahu to ensure the safety of all persons” as investigations continue.
Residents have been urged to remain calm while the Police Professional Standards Bureau examines whether proper procedures were followed.
