This was the Judgment by His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on the
Ntensere Stool Affairs between Nana Mensah Bonsu of the Ntensere Asona
Royal Family and Nana Sarfo Kantanka (Akroponghene).
The Judgement declares Nana Mensah Bonsu of the Ntensere Asona Royal Family
as the Custodian of the Ntensere Stool Lands which shared boundaries with
river Owabi, river Offin and Beshie Stream on the Kumasi-Sunyani Road.
The Proceedings of the Judgement on the 11th June 2013 by His Royal
Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutut II are as follows;
*NTENSERE STOOL AFFAIRS*
*PROCEEDINGS OF ARBITRATION UNDER THE*
*PRESIDENCY OF HIS MAJESTY,*
*OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II, ASANTEHENE*
*HELD ON 11TH JUNE, 2013 AT THE MANHYIA PALACE AT 10:00AM*
* *
*NANA SARFO KANTANKA*, *AKROPONGHENE*
*VS*
*NANA MENSAH BONSU*
*Present:*
1. His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asantehene
2. Oheneba Adusei Poku-Akyempimhene
3. Baffour Ankobeahene
4. Baffour Dominasehene
5. Oheneba Agyeman Atweneboanda-Hiahene
6. Nana Anaminankohene
7. Oheneba Atipinhene
8. Baffour Kronkohene
9. Nana Dotehene
10. Nana Nkonsonhene
11. Nana Adumagyahene
12. Nana Agogosohene
13. Nana Pakyi No.2 hene
14. Nana Parkosohene
15. Nana Akranpa Gyasehene
16. Nana Mansinhene
17. Nana Nkawiepaninhene
18. Nana Kokosohene
19. Nana Tiprihene
20. Nana Achiasehene
21. Nana Akotosuhene
22. Baffour Nsumankwahene
23. Nana Asoromasohene
24. Nana Donyinahene
25. Nana Toasehene
26. Nana Nkabomhene
27. Nana Nkrawhene
28. Nana Morsohene
29. Akyeame:
a. Baffour Osei Kwame
b. Kwaku Owusu II
c. Kwasi Nsebe II
d. Baffour Butuakwa Kyeame
e. Kwame Bonsu
f. Antwi Boasiako II
*In-Attendance:*
1. Mr. Charles Osei Bonsu, Senior State Secretary, Kumasi Trad. Council
2. Mr. S.A. Kokuro, Assistant R.C.C. Secretary
3. Mr. Enoch Okyere, Registrar, KTC
* *
*Synopsis*
There had been an invocation of the Great Oath of Otumfuo by Nana Mensah
Bonsu of the Ntensere Asona Royal Family against Nana Sarfo Kantanka
(Akroponghene) to the effect that he is the custodian of the Ntensere Stool
Lands and for that matter; he on behalf of the Ntensere Asona Royal Family
has been serving His Royal Majesty, Asantehene ,Otumfuo Osei Tutu II with
the fetish god, Obourmensah.
Nana Sarfo Kantanka (Akroponghene) also counter-invoked the Great Oath of
Otumfuo to the effect that he is rather the custodian of Ntensere and its
lands.
Nana Mensah Bonsu had also alleged that Nana Akroponghene had dishonored an
injunction placed by Otumfuo on the sale of the plots of the Ntensere Stool
lands.
In response, Otumfuo tasked the members of the Kyidom and Ankobea Divisions
to investigate the allegations by the two parties to probe the true
Custodianship of the Ntensere Stool Lands.
It was, however, disclosed that the issue at hand had been sent to the
Court of Law by Nana Mensah Bonsu. According to Nana Mensah Bonsu, he
decided to take court action because some plots of the land in question
have been sold by Nana Akroponghene and Nana Oyokohene in contradiction of
Otumfuo’s injunction. He also indicated that he accordingly petitioned the
members of Kyidom and Ankobea Divisions as well as the Manhyia Lands
Secretariat in relation to the alleged illegal sale of lands by Nana
Akroponghene and Nana Oyokohene. In response to why he referred the case at
hand to the Court, Nana Mensah Bonsu indicated that he wanted to protect
the Ntensere Stool Lands belonging to Otumfuo. According to him, he was
allegedly advised by Nananom Kyidom and Ankobea to send the issue at hand
to the court.
* *
*The Petition by Nana Mensah Bonsu*
The alleged petition submitted by Nana Mensah Bonsu to the members of
Kyidom and Ankobea Divisions was read by Mr. Charles Osei Bonsu to the
hearing of Otumfuo and Nananom. After reading the alleged petition, Oheneba
Akyempimhene and Ankobeahene accepted that they were served with copies of
the petition in question. Oheneba Akyempimhene and Ankobeahene, however,
indicated that they had not been able to read the contents of the alleged
petition.
*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, I want to find out from the members of Kyidom amd
Ankobea in relation to how far they have been able to deal with the
Ntensere Stool issue. How many years have they spent so far on the case at
hand?
*Oheneba Akyempimhene*: We have spent two years on the case at hand.
Otumfuo Akyeame, we have been able to investigate and resolve the issue at
hand. In the process of our investigations, a 3-member delegation, led by
Baffour Nsumankwahene, was sent to further investigate the status of the
fetish,Tano Obourmensah which was the core of the issue at hand. Our
findings revealed that Ntensere and its fetish, Tano Obourmensah rightfully
belong to Nana Akroponghene
*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, so why haven’t they given me their report or findings
till today?
*Oheneba Akyempimhene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we made an attempt to submit our
final report to Otumfuo some time ago at Sankorase but Nana Ankobeahene
prompted that the investigations were still on-going, hence, we could not
give the final report to Otumfuo
*Otumfuo*:I want to find out from Ankobeahene if the Committee had finished
with its investigations or not
*Ankobeahene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we have not finished with our
investigations. We were tasked by Otumfuo to find out the true ownership of
the fetish god, whose fetish or owner is the custodian of the Ntensere
Stool Lands.
*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, the term of the reference for the Committee was to
investigate whether the fetish god belongs to Akroponghene or Mensah Bonsu
so that we could resolve the issue at hand. The Committee was to find out
the historical background of Ntensere Stool as well as the fetish god in
relation to its ownership. I want to find out from Ankobea and Kyidom if
they have finished with their investigations.
*Ankobeahene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, the Committee is yet to sit on the issue
and make the necessary conclusions and recommendations
*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, I want to find out from the Committee if they have been
able to listen to all statements from both parties.
*Oheneba Akyempimhene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, yes .We have heard from both
parties in connections with their allegations and statements.
*Nana Toasehene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, if Nana Mensah Bonsu’s invocation of the
Great Oath was not counter-invoked by Nana Akroponghene, then, we believe
that Nana Mensah Bonsu is the true owner of the Ntensere Stool Lands.
*Kyidom*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we suggest that Otumfuo should rather look into
the issue at hand and help to resolve it amicably because we cannot rely on
the Committee.
*Gyase*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we suggest that the Committee should be made to
submit its final report to Otumfuo and Nananom for the necessary action to
be taken. This would help us to reveal the true ownership of the Ntensere
Stool Lands.
*Ankobea*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we also propose that Otumfuo should let the
Committee to present their report to enable us resolve the issue at hand.
*Manwere*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we also propose that Otumfuo should let the
Committee to present their report to enable us resolve the issue at hand.
*Nkosuo*: Otumfuo Akyeame ,we plead with Otumfuo to allow the Committee to
submit their findings to Otumfuo and Nananom so that we could share our
opinions to resolve the issue at hand.
*Akyeame*: We believe that the Committee could not do the work assigned to
them; hence, they have to be punished accordingly for negligence of duty.
After this ,we could take the necessary measures to ensure that the
Ntensere issue is amicably resolved .Also, we want to indicate that all the
parties involved in the case at hand need to be customarily penalized for
their inactions and actions in relation to the Ntensere Stool.
*OTUMFUO’S VERDICT*
*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, I am highly disappointed in my son, Akyempimhene, for
his inability to resolve this simple and straightforward issue. The issue
of Ntensere Stool Lands should not be so complicated to overpower him. How
could he disappoint me in such a woeful manner? Who is the originator of
the fetish god, Obour? I intentionally entrusted the issue at hand to them
just to find out how best they could express their prowess so far as
resolving such stool matter is concerned. The Committee could have used
just one week to investigate and resolve this type of case. Why do the
members of the Committee have to allow their dignity and integrity to be
dented by these men through bribes from the proceeds of their illegal sale
of the land in question? Why do they have to condone and connive with such
unscrupulous men to cover up the truth? The fetish god, Obour though
situated in Ntensere has its overlord. What authority does anyone have to
enable him take the overall control of Ntensere and its fetish god? I want
you to spare me with your falsehood. This is a mere case that needs not be
prolonged to this extent. I have recently been flexible and tolerable just
to give Nananom some space to operate. However, they have capitalized on my
flexibility and leniency as a chance to promote untruthfulness in their
routine activities. For this reason, I would restore and strengthen my
strict and stern ways of doing things so far as stool affairs are
concerned.
Where does Obour, the fetish god get its livelihood from at Ntensere? After
finding the source of livelihood of the fetish god, the Committee should
have also looked for the custodians of the said god, as the fetish god,
Obourmensah is the owner of the Ntensere Stool Lands. This is exactly what
the Committee was supposed to look for. The fact is that, Akroponghene has
Odikro who exist in Ntensere and swears an oath of allegiance to
Akroponghene while the Fetish Priest (Bosomfuo) for the god, Obourmensah
also plays a separate traditional role at Ntensere as Ntensere Bosomfuo.
Why should this simple issue degenerate into a big problem? It is the
responsibility of the Akroponghene to find someone to occupy the position
of Odikro at Ntensere.
Nana Mensah Bonsu and the Ntensere Asona Royal Family who are the
Custodians of the fetish god, Obourmensah should also select the fetish
Priest(Bosomfuo) for the fetish god ,Obourmensah and present him to me
through the Nsumankwahene. This could pave way for the necessary customary
arrangements to be made. The fetish god, Obour should properly be respected
and served so that peace could prevail at Ntensere. I am not talking about
plots of land at Ntensere. I declare that the fetish god, Obour, should be
handed over to its rightful custodians at Ntensere. After this, I want all
the custodians and elders of the fetish god to be invited to the Manhyia
Palace. We would then demarcate the Ntensere Stool lands which belong to
the Fetish Priest (Bosomfuo) of the fetish god,Obourmensah and give some to
the Odikro of Akroponghene who exist in Ntensere. All parties including
Odikro of Akroponghene who exist in Ntensere, Akroponghene and the Fetish
Priest (Bosomfuo) of the fetish god,Obourmensah as well as the elders of
the Ntensere Asona Royal Family should come to Manhyia Palace for the
necessary arrangements in connection with the Ntensere Stool Lands to be
made. I do not want Akroponghene to meddle himself in the selection process
of the would-be Odikro. The selection process must be done by the family
which is rightfully responsible for choosing the Odikro. After his
selection, the would-be Odikro will have to be introduced to Akroponghene
so that he could swear an oath of allegiance to him. Also, after the
demarcation and distribution of the plots of the Ntensere Stool Lands among
the various parties, I would ensure that all misunderstandings are resolved
amicably. I would also like to reiterate that any person who decides to
seek a redress of a case by the court of law will also have to receive his
or her traditional position or title by the same court.
I give you two weeks to make the necessary actions as I have directed today
to enable me to meet the parties for the final arrangements to be made. I
also reiterate that nobody should tresspass or sell any plot of the land in
question.
