Divisional chief demoted as odikro

The chief and people of Esiama in the Ellembelle District have severed ties with the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council following the demotion of Esiama Chief, Nana Kofi Ampoe IV, from a divisional chief status to Odikro.

The Chief of Esiama was sanctioned by Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, President of the Council, for celebrating Kundum festival last year after the Council had passed a resolution on September 9, 2014, restraining any town within the traditional area from celebrating the festival for fear of contracting the Ebola disease.

However, four out of the six Nzemamanle Traditional Councils that took the decision violated their own accord and celebrated Kundum while other social gatherings such as installation of chiefs, funeral ceremonies, as well as other public events were organized in Nzema traditional areas, which attracted large crowds from far and near.

In view of this, the chief and people of Esiama followed suit which was attended by some paramount chiefs who took the earlier decision not to celebrate the festival.

Addressing a press conference at Esiama on Monday, to declare its decision to break away from the Council, Rev Alfred Armoo, Vice Chairman of Esiama Development Committee, who read the press statement on behalf of the chief and people of Esiama, said they had not violated any law or custom for celebrating Kundum, therefore being demoted by the Council was unacceptable and a humiliation.

“We want to assure all Ghanaians that Esiama is independent as from today. As an independent state, Esiama does not owe any allegiance to Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III as well as the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council”, it stated.

The statement said the President of the Council also celebrated Atuabo Egya Ngonla rite and supervised the installation of three chiefs and performed the final funeral rites of two chiefs within the traditional area, which were all forms of social gatherings which attracted huge crowds.

The statement added that the government did not ban the celebration of festivals in the country, they acted within the supreme laws of the land and would therefore, not succumb to any sanction from the Council.

It said they would soon start legal processes to obtain a paramount status since it could manage its own affairs in view of the fact that it had remained a sovereign state and had never been conquered by any paramountcy in the country.