IGP called to intervene in Kumawu chieftaincy row

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, has been called to intervene in the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute, pending the outcome and final determination of an appeal currently pending before the Court of Appeal.

“Please look into this matter because of its obviously delicate nature, and if at all possible, advise a cancellation pending the outcome of the appeal”, noted N.A.N. Adumua-Bossman, solicitor for the Applicants, who is seeking a court redress over the matter.

Kumawuman would today witness the installation of Dr. Yaw Sarfo as the new Omanhene for its Traditional Council, but there are fears that the installation process may be interrupted by some feuding factions, who claim among other things that customary consultation has been ignored by the kingmakers.

Desirous of maintaining the peaceful atmosphere in the area, the Applicants, Abusuapanin Kwaku Gyekyei of Odumasi Aduana Royal Family of Kumawu and Opanin Kwabena Kodua, Principal Member of Anananyaadiana Royal Family of Kumawu, through their solicitor from Azinyo Chambers, want the IGP to put a stopper on installation process pending the hearing of application for injunction, which has been scheduled for November 10, 2014.

On October 17, 2014, the Human Rights Division of the High Court, Kumasi, dismissed a motion for an order of certiorari and of prohibition filed against the Otumfouo, Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and President of Asanteman Council, Asanteman Council – Manhyia, Nana Serwaa Amponsah, Kumawuhemaa, Nana Pepra Kodua II, Krontihene of Kumawu, Nana Akwasi Baffoe, Akwamuhene of Kumawu, Baffour Atta Tweneboah, Nifahene of Kumawu and Dr. Yaw Sarfo to stop them from an intended installation of the 7th Respondent (Dr. Yaw Sarfo) as the new Kumawuhene, in succession of the late Barima Asumadu Sakyi II.

The Applicants cited bribery and corruption allegation, as well as lack of customary consultation on the part of the Queenmother of Kumawu to buttress their claim.

The court, seeing no merit in the case, dismissed the motion but the Applicants were not happy with the ruling and on the same day, filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

On October 20, 2014, the Applicants filed a motion for an interlocutory injunction to restrain jointly and severally Nana Serwaa Amponsah, Kumawuhemaa and Dr. Yaw Sarfo (the candidate for the installation), their servants, agents and their privies from taking part in any installation concerning the Kumawu Stool, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

The Applicants claimed that the Kumawuhemaa has fixed Thursday, October 30, 2014, for the installation of Dr. Yaw Sarfo as the new Kumawuhene, even though the injunction application was yet to be heard by the court.

But the lawyer for the Applicants, N.A.N. Adumua-Bossman, in a letter to the IGP, dated October 28, 2014, argued that the Respondents were bent on ignoring the pending motion for injunction “and failing to comply with Section 1 of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491).

It is a serious (criminal and civil) contempt of Court to pre-empt the appeal and go on to do the very thing which the motion for injunction is intended to prevent”, he noted.