Kwahu Traditional Council Denies Abduction of Queen Mother Amid Early-Morning Palace Operation

A wave of alarm swept through the Kwahu traditional area on Monday morning after reports emerged of an early-morning operation at the Abene Palace and an alleged abduction of the Paramount Queen Mother, Nana Adwoa Gyamfua III. The incident has since triggered intense security activity and calls for clarity from traditional and police authorities.

According to the narrative circulating on social media and among local residents, a group of heavily-armed men in what appeared to be police, or National Security uniforms, stormed the palace around 4:30 a.m. on Monday, November 17, discharging gunshots and detaining multiple individuals. It was during that operation that the Queen Mother’s absence was noticed, prompting fears she had been abducted. 

In response, the Kwahu Traditional Council issued a public statement denying that any abduction of the Queen Mother took place. The Council said the security intervention was in fact the execution of a legal injunction issued on June 24, 2024 by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, which restrained certain persons—including the Queen Mother and another claimant—from interfering with the functions of the legitimate stool-holder at Abene Palace. 

“We wish to emphasise that the Queen Mother does not reside at the Abene Palace and was not taken away by force,” stated the Traditional Council. The statement added that all persons arrested in the police operation are safe and in lawful custody. 

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has confirmed that its Inspector-General, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has ordered the immediate release of the Queen Mother and directed the Professional Standards Bureau to investigate the circumstances surrounding the operation and detentions. 

The incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the Kwahu traditional area, where multiple claimants and factions have contested the determination of rightful authority over the throne at Abene. Local residents say the dawn action, accompanied by gunshots, raised serious concern for peace and visitor safety. 

As the investigation proceeds, security has been bolstered across the Kwahu jurisdiction, while the Traditional Council urges calm and patience from the public.