The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has ordered the release of the Kwahu Queen Mother, Nana Adwoa Gyamfua III, after a dawn police operation at Abene sparked tension in the Kwahu Traditional Area on Monday. The IGP has also directed the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) to investigate the conduct of the officers involved, with assurances that anyone found culpable will be sanctioned.
The incident triggered public alarm amid claims that armed officers stormed the palace around 4:30 a.m., fired shots, and forcibly took the Queen Mother away. The Paramount Chief of Kwahu, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III, described the operation as chaotic.
However, the Kwahu Traditional Council has dismissed reports of an abduction, saying the Queen Mother was not taken away by force. The Council clarified that the police were enforcing an interlocutory injunction issued by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on June 24, 2024. The injunction restrains Baffour Osei Akoto, accused of presenting himself as Kwahuhene, the Queen Mother, and others from interfering with the authority of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II at the Abene Palace.
While insisting the operation was lawful, the Council acknowledged that poor communication contributed to public anxiety.
In response, the Police Service has increased security across Kwahu to maintain calm as the PPSB probes whether proper procedures were followed. Residents have been urged to remain calm while investigations continue.