Unusual installation of 1 Igbo king in Ghana causes heavy protest

Numerous demonstrations and public uproar have been sparked throughout Ghana by the installation of Eze Chukwudi Ihenetu, a Nigerian traditional leader, as “Eze Ndi Igbo Ghana” (King of the Igbo People in Ghana).

Youth organisations and cultural advocates have criticised the development, and demonstrators are opposing it, arguing that the alien monarchy threatens Ghana’s sovereignty and traditional chieftaincy institutions.

Join our WhatsApp group

Protesters holding signs that read, “No Foreign Thrones” and “Honour Our Heritage,” were spotted in Accra and other parts of the Eastern Region.

Their worries were heightened when images of Eze Ihenetu’s ornate palace in Accra, which featured traditional architecture and regal insignia, appeared online.

According to information gathered, the “Eze Ndi Igbo” title is frequently employed as a symbolic cultural institution in Igbo communities overseas.

However, critics contend that the establishment of such thrones by foreigners may serve as a model for similar leadership systems in the nation.

Some Ghanaians’ mistrust has been heightened by unverified rumours that the Igbo leader intends to create a 50-acre “Igbo kingdom” in Old Ningo.

Following this, the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has been urged by certain citizens to step in and provide clarification on whether its law allows foreigners to bear royal titles on its territory.

Join our WhatsApp group

Eze Chukwudi Ihenetu responded to the controversy by defending his position, saying that the job is ceremonial and intended only to bring the Igbo people in the country together.

“The throne of the Diasporan Igbo in Ghana is meant to protect, defend and project the Igbo people and Nigerians as a whole. We have no political authority or territorial ambitions in the country. This is purely cultural,” he said in an interview.