Chiefs and people of Nwamase condemn destruction of cemetery

Nwamase (Ash), June 7, GNA - The chiefs and people of Nwamase near the Kwadaso Agricultural College, have condemned the destruction of their cemetery, describing it as an abomination and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice at all cost.

They alleged that cocoa trees at the cemetery were felled and burnt together with tombs under the instruction of Nana Yaa Pokuaa, Queenmother of Nwamase with the active connivance of the unit committee of the town.

They alleged she intended using the cemetery for a market. This was the outcome of an emergency meeting of the chiefs, elders and people of Nwamase on Sunday to discuss the destruction and "defilement" of the cemetery.

The meeting was also to enable them agree on the customary procedure for cleansing the cemetery, following its defilement. The chiefs and people unanimously agreed that as a first step towards pacifying their ancestors for the abomination and also to bring the perpetrators to book, a sheep would be immediately slaughtered and the Asantehene notified of the incident.

They also vowed to resist all moves by the Queenmother and her collaborators to convert the resting place of their ancestors into a market.

Earlier, Mr Akwasi Boateng, owner of the destroyed cocoa trees at the cemetery told the meeting that he was informed by the unit committee prior to destruction of the trees that the Queenmother had instructed that the trees be felled to pave way for construction of a market. He said even though he did not give his consent to it, the cocoa trees were later felled and the area burnt.

Nana Aboagye Ditwa, Gyasehene of the Adumanya stool, entreated the people to exercise restraint while the chiefs and elders explore the relevant customary procedure to address the problem.

The meeting was later moved to the cemetery to enable all chiefs, elders and the people to assess the extent of destruction.

Among the opinion leaders at the meeting were Nana Okyere Nkumkwa and Nana Osei Adu, both elders of Agona clan of Nwamase and Mr Kwame Owusu Agyemang, chairman of the Nwamase town concerned citizens.