The much-touted special presidential initiative for the indigenes of Bawjiase in the Central Region faces a crisis as two factions involved in a chieftaincy dispute battle over ownership of the 100-acre land on which the project is to be located.
The project, a starch factory to be commissioned by President J. A. Kufuor at Bawjiase tomorrow, has already generated tension in the town as each of the two factions claiming ownership of the land prepares to host the President during his visit.
Chronicle findings established that both factions are in favour of the project, but each wants to be recognized as the custodian or caretaker of the land so as to receive any compensation or royalty that may be paid for the land, which was hitherto occupied by 38 peasant farmers, who are also seeking compensation.
Officials from the Presidency met with one of the faction leaders, Nai Kofi Aworabi, who claims to be the regent and acting Bawjiasehene in charge of Bawjiase stool lands Tuesday, this week to finalize preparations for the President's visit, Chronicle learnt.
Indications are that the other faction led by Nai Kwaku Osadu II, who are also preparing to host the President, were kept in the dark as far as discussions with officials from the Presidency were concerned.
Nai Kwaku Osadu II himself was granting this reporter an interview at the time Chronicle got wind of the visit by Castle officials to the other faction.
Obo Akuffo Osae, Secretary to the regent, whose faction officials from the President's office visited, confirmed to this reporter that they had visitors from the Castle Tuesday morning to discuss final preparations for the President's visit. He gave no further comment on the discussion.
Interestingly, while the Nai Kofi Aworabi faction are in contact with Castle officials towards the President's visit, Chronicle can confirm that the Nai Kwaku Osadu II faction are also preparing, logistically and psychologically to meet him. A clash of host could not be ruled out, especially, considering the fact that both factions don't see eye to eye.
Chronicle can reveal that instead of the President's Friday visit to Bawjiase being a memorable one for the indigenes of the town, the possibility of clashes is high, as both factions claiming to be Chief and Regent to the Bawjiase stool lands respectively aim at outdoing one another in terms of playing host to the President and being recognized as the supreme authority in the town.
Already, the 38 peasant farmers whose only source of livelihood was their farming project on the 100-acre land, have petitioned the Presidency through the District Chief Executive, to work out conditions for compensation.
A letter to that effect dated October 12, 2001, and signed by the acting secretary of the farmers group, known as the Akpeteshie Nkanta Farmers' Association and addressed to the DCE stated that:
"We appreciate very much Ghana Government's efforts and desire to help us in the community.... We are appealing to your good offices to intervene on our behalf so that we are compensated for our long toiled projects on the land."
The letter was copied to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and the Central Regional Minister Chronicle has a copy.
Nai Kwaku Osadu II, the faction leader claiming to be Chief of Bawjiase when contacted Tuesday morning, took Chronicle through the history of the town and indicated that he was outdoored as a chief on September 14, 1999, even though a motion from the Awutu Traditional Council dated September 13, 1999 barred him from been outdoored. He stated that an earlier ruling from the High Court, which was in his favour superceeded the motion from the Traditional Council.
He said, until his outdooring, Nai Kofi Aworabi was acting as regent and head of the Bawjiase stool lands and that his outdooring as Chief meant he was now in charge of the stool lands.
Obo Akuffo-Osae, Secretary to the other faction leader, Nai Kofi Aworabi told Chronicle that the Awutu Traditional Council does not recognize Nai Kwaku Osadu II as Chief of Bawjiase because his name has even not been gazetted.
He insisted that the regent was still in charge and that Bawjiase has no chief.
Chronicle independently gathered that Nai Kwaku Osadu II gave out the 100-acre land earmarked for the starch factory even though the other faction led by Nai Kofi Aworabi supported it after they were informed.
Already, there have been clashes at the project site, as both factions interrupt work being done by labourers hired by either faction.
