Chaos in Nzema

*Omanhene lies – sub chief charges

Nana Kabina Tindenle, chief of Kabina Suazo, a suburb of Half Assini in the Jomoro District of the Western region has expressed great dissatisfaction over the recent press conference held by the Omanhene of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Annor Ajaye III, that allegedly cited him as conniving with the Deputy Energy Minister, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah to sell some 100 arches of land to him (Deputy Minister) for his personal use.

According to him, he has never had any discussion with Mr Buah who also doubles as the Member of Parliament for Ellembele, saying the allegations made in the statement were not true. This comes as a result of a recent press conference held by the Chiefs and people of Western Nzema Traditional Council who accused both the Deputy Energy Minister in charge of petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah and Dr George Sipa Yankey, the CEO Ghana National Gas Company Limited for playing key role in the relocation of the Gas infrastructural project from Domunli, near Bonyele in the Jomoro District to Atuabo in the Ellembele District. The Chief noted that he was not happy with the statement made by his Omanhene, since it seeks to degrade him as a sub chief and would not allow such comments to be made against him and would fight to redeem his image. “The statement purported to have been made by Awulae Annor Adjeye is rather unfortunate and worrisome as well as injures my reputation as a chief; and my outfit would do everything to see to it that this nonsense is stopped”. He told this reporter in a telephone interview last Sunday. He further reiterated that the statement was only meant to dent his credibility and foment trouble between people and called on all to treat the allegations as false and baseless.

The Paramount Chief of the area, Awulae Annor Adjaye III, in a sharp rebuttal accused his subject (Nana Kabenla Suazo) as an opportunistic politician citing him as a true NDC man who wants to satisfy the selfish desires of his masters. “That man used to be an NDC Constituency chairman before he was installed as a chief” he told this reporter in an interview last Sunday at his residence in Takoradi. When asked of the reason for the purported statement that cites the Deputy Minister for Energy who is also a native from Nzema, he conceded that he was not the one who inserted that particular clause but was rather put in by a committee and was only made to read it as their leader.

“You can check from the committee as to who inserted that particular clause which I read out to the public accusing Mr Kofi Buah for attempting to buy 100 arches of land from a chief from my area for his selfish motives”.

He further mentioned that, he does not regret reading the statement that was duly prepared by the committee that he supervised. The paramount chief disclosed that there are plans to meet the president to ensure that the move to sway the Gas project to a wrongful place is brought back to its initial location which is Domunli, near Bonyere in the Jomoro District. We would not hesitate to result to the law court if the government refuses to heed to our calls since the agreement which was signed three years ago that indicated Domunli as the official location for the project is backed by international law.

On his part, the youth leader of the area and a secretary to the committee Uncle Mark, gave a contradictory view regarding the alleged attempted land sale saying the whole exercise was rather led by Mr Buah’s brother instead of an earlier statement that cites Mr Kofi Buah as the main man who approached the chief in question for the land. Hon Kofi Buah when contacted reaffirmed his commitment to continue fighting for the interest of all Nzema but expressed sadness about the character assassination and called on the entire Nzema community to be careful not to join the chorus of self destruction. He assured the people of Jomoro of Government’s commitment to the development of the district and assured them that a fair resolution of this impasse will ensure that all Nzema wins.