Judgement on the Kwahumanhene vrs Obohene case adjourned

Koforidua, April 6, GNA - Some Chiefs and elders of the Kwahu Traditional Area have expressed their disappointment at what they described as attempted political interference into the settlement of a chieftaincy dispute between the Kwahumanhene Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II and the Obohene, Nana Yeboah Afari Boagyan II.

The dissatisfied chiefs made their feelings known to the press at Koforidua on Tuesday after the members of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs had informed the parties involved in the dispute that judgement on the case had been deferred to May 12 this year because the Chairman of the committee, Nene Narh Dawutey Ologo VI, was indisposed.

The parties in the dispute were informed about the adjournment deferment after waiting for more than three hours to hear the ruling at the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

Nana Deikumi Akuamoah-Mensah II, Safohene of Abene, who represented Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng, said Daasebere Oti Boateng, spokesman for the Judicial Committee, informed the parties in the dispute that a prominent personality in the region wanted the case to be withdrawn and settled amicably out of court.

He said the case had dragged on for nine years and the people of Kwahu were waiting for the verdict of the Judicial Committee and were not interested in any out-of-court settlement.

Earlier, before the parties in the dispute were informed of the adjournment, the Eastern Regional Minister, who was said to be visiting the Regional House of Chiefs, came round with an entourage to greet all the parties that had gathered at the main hall of the House of Chiefs and left.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Counsel for Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng, Mr Asante Ansong, said in 1996, the Obohene unilaterally declared himself "Omanhene of Aduanaman paramountcy". This made the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng to initiate chieftaincy proceedings against the Obohene at the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

He said before the Judicial Committee could come out with its judgement, the Obohene, Nana Boagyan, filed an injunction on the hearing of the case by the Regional House of Chiefs at the High Court. Mr Ansong said Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng and the Regional House of Chiefs took the matter to the Appeal Court and won.

He said Nana Boagyan filed a counter appeal but lost and the case was referred back to the Judicial Committee.

Mr Ansong observed that if the case was not properly handled, it would encourage some chiefs to arrogate to themselves the powers to call themselves Omanhene and that such developments could undermine the chieftaincy institution.