The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, has stated that no part of the Dormaa traditional area in the Brong-Ahafo Region falls within the traditional authority of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
“No land within my traditional area belongs to the Asantehene,” he stated at a news conference here on Friday.
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu was reacting to statements attributed to the Otumfuo that much of the Brong-Ahafo Region fall under his customary authority.
On February 20, a national daily quoted the Asantehene as saying that: “People should not make the mistake that Brong-Ahafo is not part of Asanteman. It is, and I, the Asantehene, represent the authority of Asanteman.”
The newspaper further quoted the Asantehene as saying that one important aspect of chieftaincy was authority and any chief from Brong-Ahafo who rebelled against him would not be entertained.
The Asantehene was also said to have threatened to sue the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs over its refusal to give automatic recognition to paramount chiefs in Brong-Ahafo who swear the oath of allegiance to him.
Osagyefo Badu said "the statement attributed to the Otumfuo Asantehene is most unfortunate, palpably false and deceptive."
He explained that the Dormaa traditional area, stretching from Bomaa in the Tano North District, Abesim, Chiraa, part of Sunyani, Dormaa municipality and the Dormaa had rebelled against him.
''The Dormaa Traditional Council challenges the Otumfuo to take the first step in disputing our claim if he owns the entire Brong-Ahafo Region,” he stated.
Present at the press conference were the queenmother, Nana Akosua Fima Dwaben II, and the 55 divisional chiefs of Dormaa, including the Krontihene, Barimah Ansu Adjei and Gyaashene, Barimah Oppong Yaw Boabasu.
Dormaahene speakes out on Asantehene's comment on Brong Ahafo lands
Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), March 3, GNA - Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, Dormaahene and President of Dormaa Traditional Council has suggested to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to either resort to the law courts in his bid to authenticate his customary ownership of Brong-Ahafo or stop making disparaging comments about chiefs in the region.The Dormaahene's suggestion to Otumfuo was contained in a press statement issued by Dormaa Traditional council in reaction to media publications in which a statement attributed to the Asantehene sought to place the Brong-Ahafo Region under his tutelage.
At a press conference attended by all 55 members of the traditional council at Dormaa-Ahenkro to declare the council's stand on the Asantehene's purported statement, the Dormaahene described as misleading, the portion of the news item which read: "People should not make the mistake that Brong-Ahafo is not part of Asanteman. It is, and I the Asantehene represent the authority of the Asanteman." The Dormaahene added that, it was most unfortunate for a traditional leader of Otumfuo's calibre to be associated with such comments.
Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu indicated that earlier in April, 2007 the Asantehene was quoted as having passed similar unacceptable comments about the chiefs and people of Brong-Ahafo. He said the combined effects of both statements attributed to the Otumfuo indicated that Brong-Ahafo, including the people and their traditional leaders were part of Asanteman whose authority the Otumfuo was asserting.
The Dormaahene declared that Dormaa traditional area, which stretched from Bomaa in Tano North district, Abesim, Chiraa, part of Sunyani to the Dormaa municipality and the newly-created Dormaa East district, had been under the customary jurisdiction of Dormaahene who had been in absolute control since time immemorial.
"We wish to emphatically state that the Dormaa traditional area does not fall within the Asanteman and that the people of Dormaa would not countenance these or any future unsavoury comments tailored by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to offend our good conscience", he added. Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II said the people of Dormaa unreservedly abhorred the Otumfuo's comments and would therefore be prepared to provide fitting answers to his next provocative comments. The Dormaahene called on revered traditional leaders including the Otumfuo to endeavour to make utterances that had the potential to unite rather than disintegrate the people of Ghana. 03 March 08
