Western North: Tension at Sewfi-Bekwai over rival chief installation

Tension is mounting in the Western North Region town of Sewfi–Bekwai following an attempt to install another chief for the town.

The agitated youth and the queen mother for Sewfi Sukusuku who also doubles as the Abakwamahemaa have vowed to clash with the security if the said installation is allowed in the community since Nana Kwasi Danso Asare, has already been installed since November 19th, 2018 as the new Paramount Chief of Sefwi Bekwai after the demise of the former chief Odeneho Gyapong Ababio.

It will be recalled that last year prior to the outdooring of Nana Kwasi Danso Asare, the Chieftaincy minister, Kofi Dzamasi issued an alert to all security agencies not to supervise the outdooring ceremony until all outstanding and other mediation is done.

Subsequently, the keys to the palace were handed over to the Municipal Chief Executive for the area Alfred Amoah and the divisional police commander however the keys found its way in the hands of one Nana Wreko who is preparing to install and outdoor another chief.

Nana Kwasi Danso Asare noted in an interview: “The keys to the palace were in the hands of the Municipal Chief Executive and the divisional police commander, now they have released the keys to one Mr Wreko at Sewfi-Bekwai and I have a video of him when he was opening the palace. The big question is under whose authority were the keys released to Mr Wreko? The chieftaincy minister has directed that nobody should outdoor any chief, are we not violating the orders of the minister, and if so who is doing that? The release of the key is creating tension at Bekwai and if care is not taken, there will be bloodshed in the community on Thursday, June 7th”

When contacted the divisional police commander for Sewfi Bekwai, Chief Supt Osei-Bonsu denied ever releasing the said keys to the other party and rather accused Nana Kwasi Danso Asare for not respecting and observing the public order act.

“I was on my way to Accra last year November, when I was informed that a certain group wants to install one Nana Kwasi Danso as the paramount chief for Bekwai, I quickly called them and advised them to officially write to the regional house of Chiefs and the police but they refused; the next morning I was informed by my men that there was a near clash because some people nearly outdoored Nana Kwasi Danso as a chief. I later invited the two factions for a meeting but Nana Kwasi and his men did not honor the meeting. We have not taken any sides; we are only trying to restore law and order”

Chief Supt Osei-Bonsu admitting that there was tension in the community, said the police together with others were still monitoring developments in the area and discounted that no approval has been given to outdoor any new chief.