Minister accused of harassing citizens

The Chiefs and people of Suman Traditional Area have appealed to President John Agyekum Kufuor and Parliament to protect them from the "Western Regional Minister's undue harassment and personal interference in their chieftaincy affairs".

They said Mr Joseph Boahene Aidoo is using his political influence to interfere with the work of the courts in the determination of a criminal case linked to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute. They claimed the Regional has been misusing the Police and the Military to harass citizens in the area.

The plea was contained in a five-page petition signed by thirteen people including Nana Armah Kofi III, Krontihene, Nana Adwoa Koramah II, Obaahemaa, Nana Kwadwo Donkor, Abusuapanin and Nana Yaw Ankorah, II, Kyidomhene.

The petition was first presented to the Office of the President after which it was presented to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament. In Parliament the Minority Leader Mr Alban Bagbin and Mrs Eugenia Kusi, Majority Deputy Whip, representing the Majority Leader Papa Owusu Ankoma received the delegation in audience.

The delegation told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that they wanted the courts to be left alone to do their job. "We are wiling to abide by whatever verdict the courts give," they said. Mr Baffor Gyima, Counsel for the delegation, in a telephone interview confirmed the delegation's allegation.

He said Mr Aidoo is known to be a personal- friend of the leader of one of the factions hence his action. Mr Gyima said the Chairman of the Western Regional Public Tribunal once said in an open court that he (the Chairman) was under serious political pressure in the case.

He said he has a store of evidence to prove that Mr Aidoo was personally interfering with judicial proceedings. Reacting to the allegations Mr Aidoo denied that a member of one of the factions in the dispute was his friend.

He said he had neither spoken to the tribunal Chairman nor had he sent anybody to him to "influence his decision." The Regional Minister said he was preparing an appropriate response to the accusations for presentation to Parliament; "I am ready to submit myself for grilling by Parliament," he added.