Catholic Priests settle 21-year old chieftaincy dispute

Kumasi, June 25, GNA - A group of high ranking Roman Catholic priests in the Ashanti region has successfully settled a chieftaincy dispute that raged for 21 years between Nana Bi-Kusi Appiah, Paramount chief of Manso-Nkwanta Traditional area and a group of four chiefs in the area.

Sources close to the Council told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that due to the feud, the four chiefs did not attended traditional council meetings for the 21 years.

The Catholic Priests, who initiated the move to resolve the impasse with the consent of the four chiefs, appeared before the Council with three of the feuding chiefs to appeal for a peaceful arbitration to enable them attend meetings.

The mediators were, Most Reverend Thomas Kwaku Mensah, Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Reverend Gabriel Anokye, Catholic Bishop of Obuasi and Reverend Father Dwoben Adusei, Parish Priest of Manso-Nkwanta.

The four chiefs who sought reconciliation were Nana Kwaku Ti, Chief of Yawkrom, also Akwamuhene, Nana Doku Appiah-Dankwa, Chief of Adubia, also Nifahene, Nana Obeng Korankye, Gyasehene and Nana Pipim Karikari Apau, Kyidomhene.

Addressing the traditional Council, Most Reverend Mensah expressed thanks to the paramount chief and other members of the traditional council for accepting to bury the hatchet and give peace a chance. He said the reconciliation effort was not meant to judge who was right or wrong since that would only stir embers and further deepen the animosity.

Nana Appiah also thanked the priests for their effort saying that he was obliged to accept the apology sent through the "men of God" because of their noble offices.