Nana Tandoh IV Returns to Edina Trad. Council

Cape Coast (Western Region) -- THE CHIEF of Essaman in the Edina Traditional Area, Nana Kwesi Tandoh IV, who on February 24, 1998 temporarily resigned as the Acting President of the Traditional Council, following unsavoury newspaper and radio reports against him on his alleged involvement in a land/house litigation between him (Nana) and an African-American, Madam Sylvia Ann Gregory, is to return to the council tomorrow.

The background of the case is that the African-American who was reported to have arrived in the country for the first time in 1988 on tour and met Nana Tandoh, a traditional ruler became friends.

As a result, the African-American made subsequent visits to Ghana during which she lodged with Nana Tandoh, his wife and children in their rented house at Rambler's cottage at Ankaful, near Cape Coast.

It became clear that the ties between the two grew stronger and stronger to the extent that the African-American was reported to have expressed her desire to make a permanent stay in Ghana.

Before then, Nana Tandoh and his wife who had advanced their intention to build a house, acquired a land and prepared a building plan, the African-American whose relationship with the couple was intimate and cordial was also reported to have shared their desire to construct the house which is now in dispute as she played a recognized role in the construction of the house.

The Chronicle can report that some time after the building had been completed and the couple and their African-American moved in the house No. AV. 31.3 at Ankaful Village, the relationship between the parties turned sour, thus ending in a litigation over the ownership of the house.

Following the protracted litigation at a Cape Coast high court, the press and radio took the traditional ruler to task, resulting in Nana Tandoh's resignation as the acting president of the Edina Traditional Council until the final determination of the case pending in the court to safeguard the image of himself and that of the Edina traditional council as by a letter dated February 24, 1998.

After five years of litigation in the court presided over by His Lordship, Mr. Justice K. Tweneboa Kodua, ruled in favour of Nana Tandoh and ordered that Madam Sylvia Ann Gregory should be evicted from the house in dispute within 30 days.

As a result, Nana Tandoh will on Tuesday, May 27, join his colleagues (chiefs) at the traditional council to deliberate on issues pertaining to the Edina traditional area after almost 5 years of absence, as he is now free to continue with the work of the council from where he left off.

Now that the Edina traditional council has an omanhene, Nana is only returning as an ordinary member of the council.