General News of 2012-10-25

Tension mounts in Wa

Disputed Wa Naa Alhaji Issah Seidu and his elders stormed Accra today making frantic appeals to President John Mahama to speedily intervene and stop a swearing-in ceremony tomorrow for the rival chief, Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo.

They came over to Joy FM with court documents purported to show that the act would be illegal because of the pendency of a suit in the Supreme Court over who is the legitimate chief.

Issah Seidu told Joy News’ editor Samson Lardy Ayenini the function has the potential to spark violent clashes.

“We are afraid that anything could happen tomorrow, anything could happen tomorrow that is why I am calling on President Mahama to intervene or do something about it before tomorrow. He can do it as the president.”

He gave a caveat that if the other gate goes ahead with the function then it means “they don’t love peace”.

“I don’t see the reason why Fusein Pelpuo should be holding himself as a chief; he is ignoring the rule of law.”

“I am appealing to the president and the law enforcement agency, security officers to do something about it,” he said, expressing the fear that if the president does not intervene something untoward may happen on Thursday.

But spokesperson for the rival chief, Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo, Mahama Jongaran told Joy News there is no cause for alarm.

He said Issah Seidu has no valid documents to show that the Supreme Court has warned against the event taking place tomorrow.

“The Supreme Court cannot or will not and has never put a stay of execution on a sitting chief, it is not their work, it is the National House of Chiefs that do that.”

Meanwhile, the Upper West regional police commander DCOP Kofi Danso Akyeampong has confirmed to Joy News that the event would come off Thursday, and the security are adequately prepared for it.

He also mentioned that the police have not seen and petition stopping the function.

“As far as we the police in the Upper West are concerned, we are not aware of any petition against the swearing in of Wa Naa.”

He assured that they would provide security to ensure that the event goes on peacefully and life and property protected.