The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has stepped in to address growing uncertainty surrounding the legal basis of a dawn police operation in Kwahu, ordering the immediate release of the Queen Mother, Nana Adwoa Gyamfua III, while directing a full internal investigation into the conduct of officers involved.
The intervention follows mixed accounts from traditional authorities, police officials, and residents about the early-morning enforcement activity, which many initially believed to be an abduction.
Conflicting Narratives Over Court Injunction
While the Paramount Chief of Kwahu, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III, alleged that armed officers stormed the Abene Palace at 4:30 a.m. and fired shots before taking the Queen Mother away, the Kwahu Traditional Council disputed the account, insisting the police acted within the confines of law.
The Council said the operation was triggered by an interlocutory injunction issued on 24 June 2024 by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
The injunction restrains individuals—including the Queen Mother and Baffour Osei Akoto, who the court says is “styling himself as Kwahuhene”—from interfering with the court-recognised occupant of the Abene Palace, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II.
According to the Council, this legal directive guided the police’s actions, but the absence of clear communication created public unrest and misinterpretation.
Police Authority Under Scrutiny
Amid the conflicting statements, the IGP has tasked the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) with determining whether officers acted proportionately and in accordance with standard operational procedure.
Any officer found to have acted outside the law will face sanctions, the statement noted.
Security Tightened as Investigations Begin
To prevent further escalation, the Police Service has dispatched additional personnel across the Kwahu enclave. Residents have been urged to remain calm while the investigative process unfolds.
The IGP’s swift directive is widely viewed as an effort to restore public confidence in law enforcement at a time when traditional authority disputes and court interventions have become increasingly contentious.
As both the Traditional Council and the Paramount Chief maintain opposing interpretations of Monday’s events, the ongoing investigation is expected to shed light on what happened—and whether the dawn operation was carried out within lawful limits or mishandled by the officers involved.
