Residents of Poasi in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly have turned the streets of the community red in a show of opposition to any further attempts to install another chief.
The display follows an incident on September 13, 2026, when a group of armed security personnel reportedly entered the community amid an attempt to install a new chief.
At a media conference dubbed “A Call to Action – Enough is Enough,” the Poasi Oman Committee warned the security services and other stakeholders against interfering in the community’s traditional affairs.
The residents say the red clothing worn across the community symbolises their anger over the September 13 incident and their determination to prevent a recurrence.
According to the Poasi Oman Committee, a group claiming to be associated with the Poasi Akwamu Royal Stool family invaded the Poasi Palace with armed men in an attempt to forcefully install another chief.
The committee said the incident created confusion and fear among residents, including women, children and the elderly.
It credited the intervention of the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, and the Police Command with helping to restore calm.
Secretary of the Poasi Oman Committee, Samuel Kwabena Emmisah, appealed to the military, police and other security agencies to stay away from any attempt to install a chief who has not been accepted by the community.
“We respect our security agencies, especially the military, the police, and the other agencies. We respect them, and we beg them not to involve themselves or get influenced by or induced by any person that they will just come into the community and try to install a chief that we have not accepted and do not endorse,” he said.
Mr Emmisah said the community respects the security services and wants to work with them to maintain peace.
He, however, urged security personnel not to enter the community to escort or facilitate the installation of a chief without the consent of the appropriate traditional authorities.
“We beg the military, the police, and any security personnel not to come into Kwesimintsim community to come and install anybody or escort anybody,” he added.
The Poasi Oman Committee is appealing to traditional authorities and relevant state institutions to intervene and prevent a recurrence of the incident.
The committee said any outstanding chieftaincy-related differences should be resolved through the appropriate traditional and legal processes.
Assembly Member for the New Takoradi Lower Electoral Area, Gilbert Siaw, who supervises the Poasi Electoral Area, also called on anyone seeking to undertake activities relating to the chieftaincy dispute to follow the appropriate channels.
He said there are established authorities responsible for dealing with chieftaincy matters and warned that bypassing those processes could create unnecessary tension.
“I want to use this medium to advise anybody who wants to undertake such moves that they should use appropriate channels. There are channels, there are people, higher authorities, people who matter as far as chieftaincy issues are concerned. Follow the right procedure and there will be peace,” Mr Siaw said.
He stressed that the community does not want a situation that could lead to chaos.
“These cases will bring chaos, and as far as I know, our town here doesn’t want chaos; we want peace,” he added.
For the residents of Poasi, the display of red goes beyond symbolism.
It represents their demand for peace and a call on the security services, traditional authorities and all other stakeholders to ensure that the events of September 13 do not recur.
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