Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey has strongly denied claims that she authorised or sanctioned the arrest of the Kwahu Queen Mother, Nana Adwoa Gyemtua III, describing the allegations as “completely false and misleading”.
The denial comes in response to a publication by Agoo 96.9 FM which carried a video in which Nana Nilm Sarpong, Abene Bamuhene, claimed the Minister had confirmed to a delegation of chiefs that she gave the order for the Queen Mother’s arrest.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Madam Awatey dismissed the report as a “gross misrepresentation of facts”.
She clarified that on December 1, 2025, a delegation of Kwahu chiefs paid a courtesy call on her at the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council to update her on the circumstances surrounding the Queen Mother’s arrest and to follow up on a referral from the Inspector-General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno.
According to the Minister, the chiefs informed her that the IGP had personally apologised for the incident, explaining that the arrest was executed by police officers and that he had instituted an investigation into their conduct.
Madam Awatey said she also tendered an apology to the delegation — not because she ordered the arrest, but in her capacity as Regional Minister and Chairperson of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), she felt duty-bound to express regret over the unfortunate development.
“I wish to place on record that at no point did I authorise, sanction or direct the arrest of the Kwahu Queen Mother,” the statement emphasised.
The Minister urged the public to disregard the misleading reports and cautioned media houses to verify information before publication to avoid creating unnecessary tension in the region.