Aiyinase Chief Arraigned Over Deadly Succession Clash as Tensions Roil Western Region

The Sekondi Circuit Court in Ghana’s Western Region has summoned Nana Etwe Kpanyinli VI, Chief of Aiyinase, alongside five accomplices, over a violent chieftaincy dispute that claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy and plunged the community into chaos.

The case, driven by a petition from residents and a directive from the Attorney General’s office, highlights the lethal consequences of a long-simmering rivalry over traditional leadership.

The conflict erupted following the death of Abusuakpanyinli Atobra Boadi, former head of the Aiyinase stool. On January 2, 2021, Peter Solomon Enderson, known as Abusuakpanyinli Yemi, was formally installed as successor in accordance with customary rites. However, prosecutors allege that Nana Etwe Kpanyinli VI sought to subvert tradition by orchestrating the installation of his uncle, Yaw Boadi, as a rival claimant—a move that defied established norms and ignited unrest.

Authorities claim the chief enlisted armed men to intimidate Yemi’s faction, culminating in a violent confrontation. Amid the clashes, the teenager sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head, casting a pall over the community and triggering demands for accountability.

Charges against the chief and his co-accused—including unlawful assembly, abetment of crime, and possession of offensive weapons—stem from the Criminal Offenses Act of 1960. While Nana Etwe Kpanyinli VI has been granted bail, his next court appearance on April 1 will test the judiciary’s resolve to address tensions where tradition collides with legal accountability.

The case underscores the volatile intersection of Ghana’s chieftaincy system and modern law. Succession disputes, often rooted in competing historical claims, frequently spiral into violence, destabilizing regions already grappling with governance gaps. Critics argue that delayed justice in such cases emboldens impunity, while communities bear the brunt of fractured leadership.

This trial also spotlights the Attorney General’s heightened scrutiny of traditional authority figures, signaling a potential shift toward stricter enforcement against leaders who exploit cultural legitimacy for personal power. Yet, challenges persist: witnesses in chieftaincy cases often face intimidation, and legal processes can drag on for years, leaving scars on affected towns.

For Aiyinase, the proceedings offer a fragile hope for closure. But as Ghana navigates the delicate balance between respecting tradition and upholding the rule of law, this case may serve as a litmus test for curbing the cycle of violence that too often accompanies the quest for power within its ancient institutions.