The Inspector-General of Police's (IGP) directive for the immediate release of Nana Adwoa Gyamfua III, the Kwahu queen mother, has been lauded as "a step in the right direction" by Mustapha Abdallah, a Senior Researcher and Deputy Head of Programmes in Peace Operations, Stabilisation and Peacebuilding at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). This directive followed a controversial dawn police operation where the queen mother was forcibly removed from her residence, an incident that significantly heightened tensions within the Kwahu Traditional Area.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, Mustapha Abdallah underscored the profound respect commanded by chieftaincy, describing it as a critical pillar of Ghana’s traditional governance system. He emphasized that any actions involving traditional leaders, especially queen mothers, demand immense sensitivity to prevent community tensions from escalating. "The IGP directing that the Queen Mother be released is in the right direction. When you go to the traditional level, queen mothers command a lot of respect. Any attempt to arrest her could further inflame tensions within the community,” he explained, adding that her release creates space for calm while comprehensive investigations proceed.

The background to this situation reveals widespread alarm after reports indicated that heavily armed police officers stormed the queen mother's palace at Abene around 4:30 a.m. on Monday, November 17. The Paramount Chief of Kwahu, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III, stated that officers indiscriminately fired shots before whisking Nana Adwoa Gyamfua III away. In response to these unsettling events, the IGP not only ordered her immediate release but also tasked the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) to conduct a full-scale investigation into the circumstances of the operation, with assurances that any culpable officers would face sanctions.

Following the IGP's directive, Mustapha Abdallah further stressed the urgent need for enhanced protection for the Kwahu queen mother. He highlighted the delicate balance between the authority of traditional institutions and the constitutional responsibility of the Ghana Police Service to maintain law and order. While acknowledging the supremacy of the IGP’s instruction in matters of national security, Abdallah urged the police to go beyond just release by safeguarding the queen mother. "We need to give her protection. The Ghana Police Service needs to provide her with security while mediation efforts continue between the paramount chief, the traditional institutions and other stakeholders to find an amicable solution to the problem,” he advised. He reiterated that protecting the queen mother is crucial to prevent potential retaliatory attacks or a further escalation of tensions, emphasizing the importance of engaging in efforts to find a peaceful resolution.