Chiefs flout orders of Otumfuo over land dispute

The refusal of some sub-chiefs in Akropong and the Ntensere community to abide by a ruling delivered by the Asantehene, concerning the true ownership of the Ntensere Stool lands, is said to have aggravated chaos and tension in that community.

The Chief of Akropong, Nana Sarfo Kantanka’s refusal to respect the pronouncement of the Ashanti King, which declared Nana Mensah Bonsu II of the Asona Royal Family as the rightful overseer of Ntensere Stool Lands and the Obuomensah Shrine, had become a matter of dispute between the chief and other interested parties.

The case was initiated after Nana Bonsu II invoked the great oath of the Asantehene, and was reinforced by the Akroponghene somewhere in 2006, that he was the custodian of the Ntensere Stool Lands for and on behalf of the Asante King.

The ruling by the Asantehene followed the failure by a Committee set up under the chairmanship of the Akyempimhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku, to resolve the long standing issue, which was said to be crippling the development of the area, and also affecting the performance of traditional customs to the Obourmensah Shrine, one of the spiritual backbones of the Asante Kingdom.

The terms of reference of the Committee, which was ultimately disbanded by the Asantehene in 2013, was to resolve the differences between Nana Mensah Bonsu II, Otumfuo Bosomfuo (Chief Priest) for Otumfuo Asantehene Tano Obuomensah Shrine (a fetish god) and Nana Sarfo Kantanka, Chief of Akropong, who had laid claim to Ntensere Stool Lands.

It was also to determine who the Overlord of the Obuor shrine was, and who had the right to worship and perform the necessary customary rights to the shrine as custodians.

But an obviously angry Otumfuo, in a ruling, a copy of which has been made available to The Chronicle, rebuked members of the Committee for their lackadaisical approach to duty, chiding them for allowing themselves to be influenced with money and other material things, leading to the delay in the execution of an otherwise simple matter.

In a judgment delivered on June 11, 2013, the Asantehene declared: “The fetish god, Obuor, though situated at Ntensere, has its overlord. What authority does anyone have to enable him take the overall control of Ntensere and its fetish god?

The incensed Asantehene further stated in the ruling that “Obuormensah is the owner of Ntensere Stool Lands. That is exactly what the committee was supposed to look for. The fact is that Akroponghene has an Odikro who exists in Ntensere and swears an oath of allegiance to him, whilst the Fetish Priest, Bosomfuo, for the god Obuormensah, also plays a separate traditional role as Ntensere Bosomfuo.”

The Asante King, therefore, stated that whilst it was the responsibility of the Akroponghene to find someone to occupy the position of Odikro at Ntensere, “Nana Mensah Bonsu and the Ntensere Asona Royal Family, who are the custodians of the fetish god, Obuormensah, should also select the Fetish Priest for the god and present him to me through the Nsumankwaahene.”

A clear demarcation of Ntensere Stool Lands was also subsequently made between all the interested parties, to ensure that peace and order returned to the Ntensere community in order to ensure development.

However, despite the directives by the Asantehene, confusion appears to rage on, as the Akroponghene, Nana Sarfo Kantanka, and Nana Mensah Bonsu II continue to engage in legal and physical tussles over ownership of land and the fetish god.

Even though the Akroponghene reportedly appointed one Nana Wiafe Akenten as the Odikro of Ntensere, per the order by the Asantehene, the selection is being challenged on the basis that this same Nana Wiafe Akenten also doubles as the Akyeamehene (Chief Linguist) to Nana Sarfo Kantanka.

SUIT AND COUNTER SUIT

Two suits are currently before the court, in which Nana Mensah Bonsu II has sued three people – Charles Osei Bonsu, Senior Secretary at the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC), Samuel Osei Poku at the Manhyia Palace, and Nana Sarfo Kantaka, Chief of Akropong – for alleged manipulation of the ruling and recordings of the Asantehene’s Judgment.

Dated October 1, 2014, Nana Bonsu II is accusing the three defendants of allegedly frustrating his efforts to obtain copies of judgment declaring him the rightful owner to the Stool Lands and fetish god, and also for allegedly manipulating records detailing proceedings of the case.

On the other hand, Nana Wiafe Akenten, who claims to be Odikro of Ntensere, has also sued Nana Mensah Bonsu and four others – Nana Osei Boateng, Kofi Osei, Ashie Korankye and Isaac Mensah – after raising an objection to a decision by the four suspects to renovate and re-roof the Ntensere Palace.

However, a letter dated August 18, 2014 and signed by Gyamfuaah Sarpong, on behalf of the Chief State Attorney, said no charges could be preferred against the four suspects, because they were carrying out their legitimate duties as custodians of the palace.

APPEAL

Meanwhile, Nana Mensah Bonsu II has made a passionate appeal to the Asantehene to, once again, intervene in the matter, and bring all individuals, including some of his sub-chiefs whose actions and inactions have perpetuated the long standing dispute, to book.