No royal burial for Asankragwa chief

The Judicial Committee of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Council, in the Western Region, has ordered the Agona Clan of Asankragwa, not to bury the late Asankragwa Chief, Nana Anyani Buadum III, as a royal, due to the pendency of a case before it, contesting his royal status.

By this order, the Agona Clan is sandwiched between the devil and the deep blue sea, to either wait patiently for the determination of the case or go ahead to bury the late chief like any other person.

On February 18, 2015, 18 clear months after the ruling of the Judicial Committee, which saw attempts to overturn that order, the Agona clan has finally succumbed to the decision of the traditional council.

Consequently, the Omanhene of the Wassa Amenfi traditional area, Tetrete Okuamua Sekyim has personally decided to take charge of the funeral, which had been agreed to take place at the palace at Asankragwa, but should not be construed as a royal burial and funeral.

The committee further restrained the Agona clan from nominating, electing and enstooling a chief to succeed Nana Anyani Boadum III or enstooling occupants on the vacant Asankragwa stool.

At a meeting held at Wassa Akropong, the traditional headquarters on Thursday, July 7, 2016, terms of settlement had been agreed to wit, Agona clan shall be at liberty to perform the funeral and burial of Nana Anyani Boadum in whatever manner they so choose.

That the late Nana Anyani Boadum should be laid in state at the Asankragwa palace and that the body shall be buried in the cemetery created by himself for the burial of his family members.

It was also agreed that the late chief shall not be buried at the Asankragwa palace being the royal mausoleum.

To avoid any misunderstanding at Asankragwa, the Omanhene of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area shall delegate one of his elders to go to Asankragwa and convene a meeting of the family members of the parties herein and the entire Asankragwa Township to explain the details of these terms of settlement before the funeral and burial of the late Nana Anyani Boadum takes place.

That these terms of settlement shall not be construed as being an acknowledgement that the late Nana Anyani Boadum was the chief of Asankragwa

That these terms of settlement shall be without prejudice to the substantive case pending before the judicial Committee of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Council

That these terms of settlement be endorsed by the Judicial Committee of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Council as a consent order.

It is on record that the late chief of Asankragwa who was a member of the Ahene Clan later went to join the Agona Clan with the stool.