By Nicholas Osei Wusu
A 36-year old journalist, Bernard Elikem Korku Abenyi Buachie has been enstooled the new Paramount Chief of the Akpini Traditional Area in the Volta region.
He now bears the stool name Okpekpewuokpe Togbuiga Dagadu The Nineth and succeeds the late Okpekpewuokpe Dagadu the Eighth.
The Akpini Traditional Paramountcy covers the Kpando Municipality and beyond in the Volta.
The Akpini Stool had been vacant for many years after the last Paramount Chief, Okpekpewuokpe Dagadu The Eighth following a prolonged dispute over the stool.
The selection of a 36-year-old Kumasi-based journalist as the new occupant of the Akpini Stool, therefore, came as good news to the indigenes.
The new Paramount Chief underwent a period of the traditional confinement during which elders of the stool took him through the history and rites, dos and don’t associated with the chieftaincy and his new status.
On the day of his outdooring and coronation, Okpekpewuokpe Togbuiga Daga The Ninth, the Kpando township was thrown into a frenzy as citizens traveled from far and near back home to celebrate the occasion which also brought together almost all factions to the stool. Also present to support the new Chief were Journalists who had traveled from the Ashanti region.
The event was characterized by merrymaking with mostly the elderly women and youth in the thick of affairs.
Some rituals and traditional rites were performed to signify his official acceptance and enstoolment as the newly recognized traditional head of the paramountcy.
In his address to the people, Okpekpewuokpe Dagadu thanked the kingmakers and elders of the Akpini Traditional Area for accepting him.
He assured the chiefs and people of the area of his determination to sustain the unity to advance the socio-economic development of the traditional area.
Education/Career:
The new Paramount Chief, Okpekpewuokpe Dagadu known in private life as Bernard Elikem Korku Abenyi Buachie, hails from Kpando Gabi. He is an old student of the Bishop Herman Senior High College and holds Bachelor of Science in Agric from the KNUST, Diploma in Human Resource Management from the Institute of Commercial Marketing in the United Kingdom and a Master in Theology.
Okpekpewuokpe Dagadu has about 18 years of broadcast, online and print journalism experience. He is currently an active member of the Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association, GARDJA and also Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Branch of the Ghana Association of Writers.
Okpekpewuokpe Dagadu previously worked with the United Nations’ Millennium Development Challenge and the Techiman Municipal Assembly as a Public Relations Officer.
He promised to operate an open-door leadership and be tolerant to criticisms and advice to ensure development of the traditional area.
