Afihene Family Runs to Otumfuo, Mahama Over Company Dispute
A major dispute over the ownership and management of Yeboah Afihene Industries Limited, a well-known metal manufacturing company in Kumasi, has prompted an emotional appeal to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and restore peace and fairness within the company.
The appeal was made by Mr. Kofi Sarfo Afihene, also known as Kwabena Sarfo, who identifies himself as the newly appointed Acting Managing Director of the company. Addressing the press at Atwima-Techiman in the Atwima Kwawoma District on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, he said the intervention of the Asantehene and the President was necessary to ensure justice and protect the interests of what he describes as the “current majority shareholders.”
According to him, the situation has escalated because the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Kwasi Ofori Agyemang, popularly known as King Zuba, allegedly supported Mr. Kwame Assuama Yeboah Afihene and others to lock up company-owned stores and deny shareholders access to their goods.
He claimed that individuals believed to be “machomen” locked up the stores with padlocks belonging to the Assembly, heightening tension at the company’s premises.
However, when contacted, King Zuba firmly denied using macho men, explaining that only two shops were locked by the Metro Estate Officer purely to prevent a possible clash between factions.
“I won’t supervise bloodshed in the Metro,” he insisted. “I deployed military and National Security personnel to ensure calm, and two people were arrested and cautioned. I did not engage machomen.”
He added that some shops were later reopened after pleas from some family members, adding that National Security operatives remained at the scene to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kwame Assuama Yeboah Afihene, who insists he is the rightful Managing Director of the company, has denied all accusations against him. He declined to speak extensively, saying his lawyers would handle the matter. His legal team, led by Lawyer Kwamina Mensah, also dismissed the allegations.
In a new twist, Mr. Kofi Sarfo Afihene has threatened to report the matter to the General Legal Council’s Disciplinary Committee, alleging professional misconduct, conflict of interest, and abuse of legal authority by some of the lawyers involved in the dispute.
The long-running conflict, which dates back to disagreements following the death of the company’s founder in 2010, has evolved into a fierce battle over control, access to properties, and alleged mismanagement.
Members of the Afihene family accuse Mr. Assuama of monopolizing the company’s operations, altering records without approval, and preventing other shareholders from accessing company assets. They say the prolonged dispute is affecting business operations and threatening the livelihoods of employees.
The matter is currently before the Commercial Court, while calls grow louder for the Asantehene and President Mahama to step in and help resolve the crisis before it further destabilizes the company.
