Court restrains Berekum chiefs from installing another Omanhene

Fiapre (B/A), Aug.15, GNA- A circuit court at Fiapre in Brong Ahafo on Friday restrained seven kingmakers, their assigns or agents from holding nomination, election and installation of Nana Atta Nyamekye as Omanhene of Berekum Traditional Area.

The kingmakers are Nana Ofori Appiah 11, Krontihene, Nana Okofo Dartey 11, Gyasehene and Nana Adu Gyamfi Kumaning, Akwamuhene. The others are, Nana Kofi Yeboah Ababio, Ankobiahene, Nana Atta Nyamekye of Papase royal family, Nana Tieku Ababio of Babianiha royal family and Obaapanin Yaa Owusua of Abentema royal family.

The court order followed a motion filed by the police at Berekum that there were "reasonable grounds" to believe that the intended event, if held, would lead to violence and undermine security in Berekum.

The police stated that in 2001 a similar event on chieftaincy matter resulted in insecurity and the police had to be brought in to bring the situation under control.

Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Gyamfi, the presiding judge, agreed with the police saying there was the likelihood of a breach of the peace and public safety and asked the kingmakers to postpone the event for a month and to seek redress at an appropriate forum.

The Berekum chieftaincy litigation has lingered on since the death of the Omanhene, Nana Yiadom Boakye 11 on October 9, 1999.

The choice of a successor has been the source of the litigation and at a meeting of the Kingmakers on April 14, 2000, the queen mother Nana Akua Anaahene 11, nominated Dr Leo Ofori, a surgeon at the Regional hospital in Sunyani as the successor but the decision was challenged by a section of the Kingmakers led by the Krontihene.

The matter was sent to the Brong Ahafo regional House of Chiefs and the law courts and in June this year, a Wenchi high court gave judgement in the queen mother's favour and nullified all proceedings. On July 9, this year, Dr Ofori was outdoored as the new Omanhene of the area under the stool name, Daasebre Dr Amankona Diawuo 11, without any protests from the Krontihene's faction.

The Supreme Court on July 27 unanimously dismissed an application filed by the Krontihene for the annulment of the nomination, election and installation of Daasebre Dr Amankona and awarded a cost of 10 million cedis in favour of the queenmother.

The Krontihene on August 9 notified the police of his intention to hold an event for the nomination, election and installation of Nana Nyamekye on August 16, as another Omanhene.