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Asanteman Association of Washington DC metro enstools new chief
Mr. Frank Acheampong, a Washington DC-based business magnate, was last Saturday, enstooled as the Asantefuohene of Washington, DC Metro Area under the stool name Barima Owoahene Owusu Acheampong.
There was a colourful display of Asante Culture with Asante Chiefs from various parts of the United States in attendance.
Barima Owusu Acheampong takes over from Nana Nyarko Ampem Darko who completed his term as the Asantefuohene of Washington DC Metro Area.
The new chief and his team of traditional leaders swore the oath of allegiance before the Council of Elders of the Asanteman Association of Washington Metro Area.
The ‘Omanhene of Virginia’ welcoming
the Ambassador to the eventThe Asantefuohene (left) and Asantefuohemaa
(2nd left) of Denver at the event to supportNananom at the event 
Ambassador Alima Mahama
dancing to traditional kete drums
The members of the Council of Elders present were Nana Nyarko Ampem Darko (the immediate past Asantefuohene), Abusuapanin Frank Fofie, Otafrebuo Agyenim Boateng Pedie I (the Bogyawehene & Amoafo Akwamuhene, who once served as Asantefuohene for 12 years), Nana Owusu Kwandahor (Amoafo Manwerehene), Nana Baffuor Awuah, Nana Kwasi Mensah, Mr. Kwasi Agyeman, Nana Serwaa Brakatu and Nana Afia Buor.
Clad in traditional black cloth (kuntunkuni), as per Asante tradition, all the new traditional leaders were introduced to the Council of Elders and other traditional leaders in the community including Nana Obuor Gyau (Adumhene of Bechem Traditional Area) and Nana Tentia Kwaasi (Kokofu Nkagyaamuhene).
Nana Adusi Pokuaa the Asantefuohemaa (Queen) of the Washington DC Metro Area selected Nana Owusu Acheampong as the successor to Nana Nyarko Ampem Darko before he was introduced to the leaders of Asanteman Association of Washington DC Metro Area and accepted to lead the Association as Asantefuohene.
Nana Yaw Amankwah Pam would serve as his Kontihene with Nana Kwadwo Afriyie Agyemang as Gyasehene, Nana Kosuaa Asantewaa Kontomene as Kontihemaa and Nana Yaa Yeboah as Gyasehemaa.
The Ghana Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Alima Mahama (Hajia) graced the occasion with some members of staff of the Embassy of Ghana in the persons of Ninette Danquah Ivo, Cynthia Djokoto, Janet Maku Koranteng and Karim Kudayah. Also with the entourage was Mr. Mohammed Idris, a respected community leader in the Washington, DC Metro Area.
In his welcome address, Mr. Golash Opoku-Akyeampong Adadey, the President of Asanteman Association for the past seven years, expressed his appreciation to Otumfuo Osei-Tutu, the Asantehene, for giving them the privilege and opportunity to exercise the first step process to project the traditions and culture of Asanteman in the diaspora.
He appreciated the members of the Association for standing with him through his tenure and supporting many health and education initiatives and development projects in Asanteman.
President Golash Adadey said that the Association had resolved to honour Her Excellency Alima Mahama (Hajia) as a life Patron of the Asanteman Association of Washington DC Metro Area for her untiring efforts in reaching out to Ghanaians since she assumed office.
Ambassador Hajia Alima Mahama in her speech admonished the Ghanaian Community to unite to make a meaningful impact in their various communities and urged them to take advantage of investment opportunities in Ghana.
She further advised Ghanaians in the diaspora to support the building of the National Cathedral in Ghana for Ghana to have a befitting monument where national events could be held rather than the forecourt of the State House or Independence Square.
Ambassador Alima Mahama asked Ghanaians in the United States to register with the Embassy in Washington DC to enable them to be recognised and given the needed support.
Benita Biney, the 12-year-old traditional dance prodigy, entertained the gathering with her traditional dancing skills which swept the Ambassador and her staff off their feet to join.
After the traditional swearing-in ceremony, the newly enstooled traditional leaders changed their clothing from Black “kuntukuni” to black and white to signify celebration and the dawn of a new era.
Ambassador Alima presented $500 and assorted drinks as a token to the Asanteman Association. The presentation was made on her behalf by George Kwasi Bright.
The Asanteman Association will in due course seek the blessing and permission of Otumfuo, the Asante King for Nana Owusu Acheampong to swear the final oath of allegiance to one of Otumfuo’s paramount chiefs at a high-level traditional ceremony.
From George Kwasi Bright, Washington DC, USA
Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says more than 15,000 Ghanaian workers have lost their jobs following a directive issued by the Chief of Staff.
According to him, the dismissals affected not only people employed after the 2024 general elections, as stated in the directive, but also workers who had been lawfully employed as far back as 2017.
Raising the issue on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the Minority uncovered evidence showing serious excesses in the implementation of the directive.
“We became aware that although the letter was specific to those recruited after the 2024 elections, Ghanaian youth who were employed as far back as 2017 were all dismissed from their lawful employment,” he said.
He explained that the Minority filed a motion in Parliament to investigate the matter, which was admitted by the Speaker. However, the process has faced several delays.
According to him, the Majority Leader raised a preliminary objection to the motion, which was upheld by the First Deputy Speaker. The Minority later filed a motion for review under the rules of Parliament, which was also admitted.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the review motion was moved by him and seconded by the Member of Parliament for Ofoasi- Ayirebi, while the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor , began the debate on behalf of the Majority side.
He noted that the House was expected to continue the debate the following Tuesday to allow the Speaker to rule on the matter, but this has not happened due to other parliamentary business.
“Several times the motion appeared on the Order Paper, but we could not take it,” he stated.
The Minority Leader stressed that the delay is having serious consequences for affected workers and their families.
“This is a matter that affects the livelihood of Ghanaians. We have in excess of 15,000 Ghanaian youths affected by this directive, and they are still at home,” he said.
He added that the Minister for Employment has acknowledged receiving petitions on the issue and has initiated investigations, but said that should not stop Parliament from carrying out its own inquiry.
“These Ghanaian youths are sitting at home. Their wives, their extended families are all affected. It has been over a year, and they are not getting any justice,” he added.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin appealed to the Leader of Government Business to ensure that the motion is included in Parliament’s report and debated to allow the House to make a final decision on the matter.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Director of Communications for the United Party, Solomon Owusu, has expressed strong disappointment following the Supreme Court decision to quash the rerun of the Kpandai parliamentary election.
Mr Owusu made his views known while reacting to the ruling, stressing that he would feel deeply disappointed if he were in the position of Matthew Nyindam, the current Member of Parliament for Kpandai.
He explained that the High Court had earlier examined the case in detail and arrived at a clear determination on the matter.
According to him, the High Court found that the election was compromised and that rigging took place with the involvement of the Electoral Commission.
Mr Owusu pointed out that when the New Patriotic Party moved the case to the Supreme Court, it did not challenge the substance of the High Court findings.
He stated that the appeal was based purely on a point of law, arguing that the National Democratic Congress was time barred when it went to court, and not that the alleged rigging did not occur.
In his view, this means that Mr Nyindam remains in Parliament through an election process that did not reflect the true will of the people of Kpandai.
Mr Owusu noted that this was why he had expected a rerun of the election, to allow the MP to return to the constituency and properly establish his authority through the ballot.
He explained that a rerun would have given Mr Nyindam the opportunity to prove that he genuinely won the 2024 parliamentary election.
With the rerun now quashed, Mr Owusu questioned how the MP could celebrate or take pride in the court outcome.
He stressed that he would no longer take contributions made by Mr Nyindam in Parliament seriously, as the legitimacy of his mandate remains questionable in his view.
Mr Owusu further argued that the Supreme Court decision has shortchanged the people of Kpandai.
He described the ruling as unfair to voters who woke up early on election day, queued patiently, and voted for a candidate of their choice, only for their will to be undermined.
According to him, the outcome raises serious concerns about justice, electoral credibility, and respect for the democratic rights of the people.
By: Jacob Aggrey
