Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has dismissed the “Agyapadie” document, which features his image and outlines a strategy purportedly to elevate the Akyem people in Ghana’s economy, as a complete fabrication aimed at inciting hatred against the Ofori Panin household and Okyeman.
The document, which has resurfaced in both traditional and social media, suggests a deliberate scheme to position Akyem people at the top of various sectors. During a recent Akyem Abuakwa State Council meeting, the Okyenhene urged his kinsmen and Ghanaians to disregard the book.
He questioned the rationale behind such a document bearing his image, questioning, “Which reasonable person in his right frame of mind hatches such an intention and documents it with his image as a cover page?”
Okyenhene noted that similar attempts have been made in the past.
“We saw this during the period of J.B Danquah and we’re seeing this now. In and around October 2016, a few months before the election, the same document known as the ‘Akyem Project’ was circulating. Its aim was to incite hatred between Okyeman and Asanteman to undermine Nana Akufo-Addo’s electoral prospects. Unfortunately for them, it came too late.”
“This diabolic plan was revised in 2019. When the Agyapa business became a political issue in 2020, the book morphed into ‘Agyapadie’,” Okyenhene added at the State Council meeting in Kyebi.
He refuted claims that the Ofori Panin Fie has recently gained prominence due to extraordinary efforts, stating that the Eastern Region had more representation in former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s cabinet than under Akufo-Addo. He suggested that the ongoing controversy is designed to foster animosity towards the Akyem people.
Okyenhene also addressed recent claims of wealth, humorously remarking, “The funniest of it is that I am the richest chief in Ghana. I mean how? Anyway, when anyone regards you as a rich person, you must receive it. I receive it,” he said with a smile.
He asserted that these schemes aim to sow discord and discredit Okyeman. Despite some prominent Akyem natives working in public service, he emphasized that little has been done to advance the development of Okyeman.
Okyenhene encouraged his kinsmen to defend Okyeman’s reputation against falsehoods and hate speech.
“Some people deliberately go to work just to denigrate Okyeman and make us look evil in the eyes of the public. But such people must remember that they have family too—would they be comfortable if such palpable lies were said about them and their generation?”
