Six chieftaincy hotspots identified in Western Nzema

Six chieftaincy hotspots have been identified in the Western Nzema Traditional Council in the Western Region, which required urgent intervention to avert potential escalation.

They are Elubo, Bonyere, Ellenda, Azuleti, Ekpu and Nuba chieftaincy disputes that cut across the Ellembelle and Jomoro districts.

The President of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Annor Adjaye III, made this known when the Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa, paid a courtesy call on him in his palace at Beyin as part of his working visit to the Western Region.

He appealed to the Minister to intervene to allow peace and harmony to prevail in the traditional area. Awulae Annor Adjaye said some of these chieftaincy litigations dated back to 1960s, saying “We cannot allow the most recent ones like the Ellenda, Azuleti and Nuba-Akorangye to continue to degenerate into chronic sores because of lawyers and youth groups whose interest is to create confusion and gain from the spoils of war.”

He commended the District Security Council (DISEC) for its timely intervention whenever there were conflicts in those areas which averted bloodshed and destruction of property.

The Minister assured the Council that the government was determined to ensure peace and harmony in traditional areas across the country to accelerate national development.

He said the Chieftaincy Ministry was progressing steadily with the codification of the lines of succession of the various traditional areas and this would go a long way to minimize chieftaincy litigations and conflicts in the country.

Dr. Daannaa said thechieftaincy institution played a big role in governance, therefore, government would always seek their concerns in decision-making.

He said the Chieftaincy Ministry would continue to bridge the gap between government and tradition, and asked for the cooperation of chiefs to achieve the set goals.

The minister and his entourage also visited other traditional councils including Wassa Fiase, Eastern Nzema, Lower and Upper Dixcove, Lower and Upper Axim, Ahanta, Shama and Essikadu as part of his five-day official visit to the region.