Restrain ministry from meddling in Somey Traditional affairs - Chief charges Nana Addo

The paramount Chief and Markorsor of the Somey Traditional Area in the Ketu South Municipal in the Volta Region, Torgbui Adamah III, has called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the government to urgently intervene and stop the burial and funeral rites of the late paramount chief, Torgbui Hor II, which has been scheduled for May 19 this year.

He said the Amu, Hor and the other royal gates were not against the burial or funeral of the late paramount chief, but the right processes must be followed according to custom and tradition to maintain the peace and unity in the traditional area.

Parallel government

Torgbui Adamah III, who made the call at a press conference in Accra on the 18th of April 2018, explained that the organization and supervision of the funeral by one Torgbui Sapey Agbo V, a divisional chief who had been endorsed by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to plan and organize the burial and funeral of the former paramount chief, instead of the reigning paramount chief, Torgbui Adamah III, Would amount to a parallel government in the traditional area where Torgbui Adamah III noted could compromise the security situation in the traditional Area.

Chieftaincy Ministry

He produced a letter dated November 16, 2017 and signed by the Director in Charge of Finance and Administration (F/A) of the Ministry of chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr. Kwabena Denkyira, which suggested the constitution of a five-member burial and funeral committee headed by Torgbui Sapey Agbo V, and directed that “the committee must submit its report, including a tentative programme for the burial and funeral of the late paramount chief to the ministry to enable it to take further action on the matter.”

“What is happening now is against the norm and would bring problems to Some. How can Mr. Kofi Dzamesi bypass me, the paramount chief, who succeeded the late Torgbui Hor II and empower a divisional chief to organize a funeral for my predecessor?”.

Torgbui Adamah III quizzed and stressed that “According to our tradition, the chief who succeeds the late chief is supposed to organize and supervise his burial and funeral.”

He added the people of Some Traditional Area were not happy about the interference of the Ministry, which is headed by Mr. Dzamesi, and wanted him to step aside and allow due process to be followed in other to sustain the peace in the area.

When he was contacted, Mr. Dzamesi said “We are dealing with the chief who has been gazette and known to government.” And asked if Torgbui Adamah III had been gazetted.

“In what capacity was Torgbui Adamah III speaking to the media, has he been gazetted?” Mr. Dzamesi fumed and hung up.