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Chief of Abesim destooled
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The Dominase Royal Family of Abesim, near Sunyani in the Bono Region, has destooled Barima Kumi Akyeaw III as Chief of Abesim, following a ruling by the Sunyani High Court.
The decision was announced at a media briefing at Abesim on Sunday by the Head of the royal family, Nana Agyei Saarah, who stated that the chief, known in private life as Kelvin Anane Addo, was improperly nominated, elected, and installed.
According to Nana Agyei Saarah, apart from the irregular installation process, the former chief engaged in several actions that brought the Abesim stool into disrepute.
The Sunyani High Court, presided over by Justice Nathan P. Yarney, delivered the ruling on March 25, 2025.
The court upheld that Barima Kumi Akyeaw III was invalidly enstooled, citing a breach of customary procedure.
The Court further noted that the nomination process, conducted by the Adehyepanin (Abakomahene), following the death of the Queen mother of Abesim, failed to follow due traditional process.
He emphasised that under Abesim stool custom- which forms part of the Kyidom Division of the Dormaa Traditional Council, the Abakomahene assumes the authority to nominate candidates in the absence of a Queen mother.
Three candidates—Christian, Kelvin, and one Agyekum were reportedly nominated.
However, the court held that since there was a pending petition before the Judicial Committee of the Dormaa Traditional Council against Kelvin Anane Addo, it was inappropriate for the Dormaahene and his Divisional Chiefs to proceed with his nomination and installation.
Justice Yarney ruled that any act, whether described as opinion, advice, or otherwise, that causes grievance to another, may be subject to the supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Abesim
The Director of Legal Affairs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gary Nimako Marfo, has questioned who will bear the cost of conducting presidential and parliamentary primaries following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the party’s delegate system.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Nimako Marfo said he would not immediately comment on the ruling, adding that he wanted to wait for the full details before sharing his views.
“I don’t want to comment on it now. Let’s wait,” he said.
When asked about the Supreme Court’s decision that all members in good standing should vote in party elections, he shifted attention to the financial implications of implementing the ruling.
According to him, allowing all members in good standing to vote would increase the cost of organising internal party elections.
He questioned who would pay for the expanded electoral process.
“Who is going to pay for the cost of the elections?” he asked.
When a journalist suggested that political parties would bear the cost, Mr. Nimako Marfo replied, “Let’s wait and see.”
The comments come after the Supreme Court ruled that political parties should allow all members in good standing to vote in their internal elections, a decision that is expected to expand participation but also increase the financial and logistical demands of organising presidential and parliamentary primaries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Supreme Court of Ghana has declared the delegate system used by political parties to elect presidential and parliamentary candidates unconstitutional.
In a 5-2 majority decision delivered, the Court ruled that the long-standing system violates democratic principles and ordered all political parties to ensure every registered, card-bearing member participates in presidential and parliamentary primaries.
The ruling brings to an end decades of internal party elections conducted by a limited number of delegates.
The suit was filed by former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng; veteran politician Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe; and former Minister for Lands and Forestry, Dr. Christine Amoako-Nuamah.
The plaintiffs argued that the delegate system created inequality among party members by granting voting rights to a privileged minority while excluding ordinary members in good standing.
They told the Court that restricting voting rights to delegates was inconsistent with the democratic principles enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
The Attorney-General’s Department supported the suit and urged the Court to adopt a “one member, one vote” approach.
In its submission, the State argued that political parties perform an important public function in Ghana’s democratic framework and that their internal electoral processes must reflect constitutional values of equality, participation and universal suffrage.
The Attorney-General further submitted that expanding voting rights to all registered members would strengthen accountability and deepen internal democracy within political parties.
The judgment means that going forward, presidential and parliamentary candidates will be selected by all registered members of a political party, instead of by delegates alone.
Political parties are expected to review their constitutions and structures to comply with the Court’s directive ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
