The royal family and Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli IX, the paramount chief of Eastern Nzema, are at disagreement over a matter that has come to light. Three paramount chiefs from the Western Region are attempting to resolve the conflict.
At the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC), the royal family—led by Obaahema Avo Nyimah and Ebusuapayin Frank Kwasi—filed petitions alleging destooling against Amihere Kpanyinli, the respondent.
However, the royal family had already taken the customary step of destooling the respondent, Amihere Kpanyinli, and replacing him with one Egya Erzoah, as Omanhene, with the stool name Awulae Blay IX, before the WRHC could convene to decide the matter.
Based on the information provided to this paper, it appears that tension in the traditional area has increased with the enstoolment of Awulae Blay IX, the nephew of respondent Amihere Kpanyinli.
The traditional capital, the Palace at Atuobo, was under constant police guard as of the time this report was filed, according to the Ellembelle Police Command.
The Police have also reportedly rounded up royal family members behind the enstoolment of Awulae Blay IX and were remanded by the Ellembelle District Court for ten days, for breaching the Public Order Act.
The family members have since been granted bail after they filed for it through their legal Counsel at a higher court.
It is in the light of this that the three Paramount chiefs have waded into the dispute with the intent of ensuring at Atuabo.
Since then, the three have written to each other to mediate the conflict: Nana Kobina Nketiah IV, Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area; Awulae Attibrukusu III, Omanhene of Lower Axim; and Nana Kwesi Agyemang IX, Omanhene of Lower Dixcove.
In a phone interview, Awulae Attibrukusu, who verified the letter, informed this reporter that they had first requested permission to arbitrate the case from the Ellembelle District Court, where members of the royal family were being tried for misdemeanours.
Awulae Attibrukusu claims that the court accepted their plea and set September 24 as the deadline for them to present the court with their mediation report.
Awulae Attibrukusu, however, told this reporter that they were yet to communicate a date to the two parties for a meeting.
According to him, the mediation team would first meet the two parties together at a round table for them to state their concerns.
“What triggered the court summons is as a result of a chieftaincy dispute. So if we are able to resolve the chieftaincy dispute, there will be no court issues”, he told this reporter.
Regarding the question of whether the WRHC is the proper venue for resolving chieftaincy disputes,
“Even the Supreme Court allows mediation through settlement,” Awulae Attibrukusu retorted.
Attibrukusu expressed optimism that the petition before the House will be withdrawn if the mediation team was able to resolve the conflict.
Recall that the royal family petitioned the WRHC with ten points in an attempt to remove Amihere Kpanyinli from his position as Omanhene.
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
The offences as listed in the petition include the fact that the Respondent has failed and refused to heed to advice by the elders of the stool to marry after 13 years on the stool, contrary to tradition and custom of the people of Eastern Nzema.
The Respondent has also failed to account to the family and the stool of the numerous royalties from statutory bodies belonging to the Traditional Area since he was enstooled as Paramount chief 13 years ago.
TRAVELLING OUTSIDE GHANA WITHOUT NOTICE
What is more, Respondent has failed to render an account to the elders of the stool family and to take proper custody of the family stool properties entrusted into his care.
The petitioners, explaining what led to the respondent’s destoolment, alleged that in the month of October 2023, the kingmakers in a meeting at the chief’s palace at Atuabo and in the presence of the Respondent laid the charges herein before him (Respondent) who promised to change for the better, but had rather changed for the worse.
Also in the month of April 2024, three days were fixed at the request of respondent to go into the matters stated herein, but though the kingmakers and elders of the stool both from far and near gathered at the chiefs palace over the matter, respondent in utter disrespect refused to show up, leading to the necessary rite and custom being performed to destool him.
Consequently, they are seeking for interlocutory injunction to restrain respondent from holding or carrying himself as Omanhene until the determination of the matter.
Source: The Chronicle
