A self-proclaimed chief and a former government official are now in the hot seat at the Sekondi Circuit Court, accused of a brazen scheme to forge official documents in a bid to hijack a traditional leadership role. Emmanuel Assoua Nyami, also known as Katakyie Ntsiful Essel V, and his alleged partner-in-crime, Alfred Duodoo, stand charged with conspiracy to commit forgery with intent to deceive public officials regarding chieftaincy declarations.
Chieftaincy Coup Attempt Unravels in Court
The dramatic legal battle ignited after a formal complaint was filed by Nana Abena Konajoa II, the respected Paramount Queenmother of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area. She alleges that businessman Emmanuel Assoua Nyami deliberately fabricated official Chieftaincy Declaration (CD) Forms to fraudulently register himself as the Omanhene of Wassa Fiase. His alleged accomplice, Alfred Duodoo, a civil servant and former Registrar of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council, is said to have been instrumental in the deception.
Court documents lay bare the audacious plot: on or about October 20, 2016, in Sekondi-Takoradi, the duo allegedly submitted false statements in CD Forms 1A and 1B to officials of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, and subsequently to the National House of Chiefs. Their audacious goal? To have Nyami’s name fraudulently entered into the National Register of Chiefs as the Omanhene of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area.
Sham Installation and Falsified Records Exposed
During the inaugural court session on Tuesday, July 29, bombshell revelations came to light. It was disclosed that Assoua Nyami reportedly staged a pretentious installation ceremony on October 19, 2016, at Dompim Pepesa, instead of the legitimate location of Benso. This clandestine event, conducted “on the blind side of authorities,” brazenly proceeded despite an existing chieftaincy dispute that had been officially cancelled since 2017.
The very next day, October 20, 2016, the alleged illegalities continued. The court heard that Nyami and Duodoo secretly furnished CD Forms 1A and 1B, which were riddled with “multiple falsehoods.” These included manufactured claims of the lawful destoolment of Rev. William Chika Morgan as Omanhene of Wassa Fiase, and a false assertion that Nyami’s purported installation actually took place at Benso instead of Dompim Pepesa.
The prosecution contends that Duodoo’s motive was to submit these forged forms to the Western Regional House of Chiefs to secure official acceptance for Nyami, cunningly bypassing the crucial authorization of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council, which serves as the primary point of contact for such declarations.
Justice Prevails: Investigation Leads to Charges
Their elaborate scheme, however, ultimately crumbled. Investigations revealed that both the Western and National Houses of Chiefs refused to process the forged documents for recognition. Undeterred, Nyami allegedly pursued a series of legal actions based on these false representations, managing to obtain judicial orders that were later determined to have been fraudulently procured.
Adding to the damning evidence, in a separate civil suit (Suit No. E12/5/2023) in June 2024, the High Court in Tarkwa conclusively found that Nyami had, in fact, made false statements under oath to secure prior court orders.
Following extensive investigations, the accused persons have now been formally charged with forgery and conspiracy to forge official documents with intent to deceive Public Officials. The prosecution adamantly maintains that their actions constituted a “calculated and deliberate attempt to subvert both judicial and traditional authority, thereby undermining the integrity of the chieftaincy institution.”
The Sekondi Circuit Court is poised to continue proceedings on September 2, 2025.