The Chief of Ampabame, near Offinso in Ashanti Region, Nana Barima Takyi Abeam, has filed a petition at the Judicial Committee of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, seeking the destoolment of Nana Wiafe Akenten, Paramount Chief of the Offinso Traditional Area, for allegedly having illicit affairs with two sisters in the area.

The petitioner is as well seeking a declaration that his suspension from the Traditional Council Meetings was unlawful, and in breach of his rights as the Chief of Ampabame.

The petition, which was filed by his counsel, Mr. Robert Kingsley Yeboah, said Nana Abeam was the father of Akosua Twumwaa, and that Maame Korkor was his sister, and her daughter is Adwoa Pinaman, who is his niece as well.

"That,and with due apologies and regard to custom, Nana Wiafe Akenten III has had illicit relationships with all these three women mentioned above, and has had children with Akosua Twumwaa and Adwoa Pinaman," he stressed.

He continued that the Offinsohene's conduct was uncustomary, and a taboo under the customary practices of which he the respondent was custodian, therefore he has brought great indignity to the high office of the Offinso Paramount Stool.

The counsel indicated that Nana Akenten had disqualified Nana Abeam from sittings of the council since March 2005.

Narrating the genesis of the problem, Nana said he was summoned to the Traditional Council where his Abusuapanyin was given the floor to accuse him of stealing monies belonging to him and the President of the Council.

"I denied this allegation, and took an oath when my Abusuapanyin maintained that his statement was true," he reiterated.

He said the matter was duly settled by the Kyidomhene, who failed to look into the merits of the case, but rather asked both parties to pay a fine, however, the Abusuapanyin continued propagating allegations, "That I am a thief and I have stolen his money, as well as that of the Offinsohene, and that I would be destooled."

Nana Abeam lamented that he was very much aggrieved, and upon advice from his solicitors, he was compelled to initiate legal action against the Abusuapanyin for defamation, but the Council insisted that he withdraw the matter from the court, or face suspension.

"Having in mind that this matter was raised before the Council, but the same was not resolved for me to clear my name, I decided to pursue the matter in court to clear my name, therefore I was disqualified from its sittings," he emphasised.

He said the case was subsequently withdrawn from court by the elders of the Ampabame Stool, after the Abusuapanyin had openly confessed that the allegations were untrue, and apologised.

He intimated that all efforts for his reinstatement had proved futile, not even apologies through the Omanhene of Techiman, the Kyidomhene, and the Ankobeahene.

In his response, Counsel for Nana Akenten, Asamoah Legal Services, denied all the allegations, adding that the petitioner lacked the capacity to commence the action.

"The respondent has never had an illicit relationship with a woman and her daughter of the same blood and family. The petitioner has no daughter called Akosua Twumwaa with whom the respondent has had a relationship. The respondent has never had any illicit relationship with any sisters," he stressed.

He said the petitioner had no capacity to demand his destoolment, adding that the whole petition was "vexatious, frivolous and an abuse of the judicial process."

He demanded that the petitioner be made to bear all the expenses incurred by the respondent, especially the solicitor's fees.