Ntensere stool affairs judgment

This was the Judgment by His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on the

Ntensere Stool Affairs between Nana Mensah Bonsu of the Ntensere Asona

Royal Family and Nana Sarfo Kantanka (Akroponghene).

The Judgement declares Nana Mensah Bonsu of the Ntensere Asona Royal Family

as the Custodian of the Ntensere Stool Lands which shared boundaries with

river Owabi, river Offin and Beshie Stream on the Kumasi-Sunyani Road.

The Proceedings of the Judgement on the 11th June 2013 by His Royal

Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutut II are as follows;

*NTENSERE STOOL AFFAIRS*

*PROCEEDINGS OF ARBITRATION UNDER THE*

*PRESIDENCY OF HIS MAJESTY,*

*OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II, ASANTEHENE*

*HELD ON 11TH JUNE, 2013 AT THE MANHYIA PALACE AT 10:00AM*

* *

*NANA SARFO KANTANKA*, *AKROPONGHENE*

*VS*

*NANA MENSAH BONSU*

*Present:*

1. His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asantehene

2. Oheneba Adusei Poku-Akyempimhene

3. Baffour Ankobeahene

4. Baffour Dominasehene

5. Oheneba Agyeman Atweneboanda-Hiahene

6. Nana Anaminankohene

7. Oheneba Atipinhene

8. Baffour Kronkohene

9. Nana Dotehene

10. Nana Nkonsonhene

11. Nana Adumagyahene

12. Nana Agogosohene

13. Nana Pakyi No.2 hene

14. Nana Parkosohene

15. Nana Akranpa Gyasehene

16. Nana Mansinhene

17. Nana Nkawiepaninhene

18. Nana Kokosohene

19. Nana Tiprihene

20. Nana Achiasehene

21. Nana Akotosuhene

22. Baffour Nsumankwahene

23. Nana Asoromasohene

24. Nana Donyinahene

25. Nana Toasehene

26. Nana Nkabomhene

27. Nana Nkrawhene

28. Nana Morsohene

29. Akyeame:

a. Baffour Osei Kwame

b. Kwaku Owusu II

c. Kwasi Nsebe II

d. Baffour Butuakwa Kyeame

e. Kwame Bonsu

f. Antwi Boasiako II

*In-Attendance:*

1. Mr. Charles Osei Bonsu, Senior State Secretary, Kumasi Trad. Council

2. Mr. S.A. Kokuro, Assistant R.C.C. Secretary

3. Mr. Enoch Okyere, Registrar, KTC

* *

*Synopsis*

There had been an invocation of the Great Oath of Otumfuo by Nana Mensah

Bonsu of the Ntensere Asona Royal Family against Nana Sarfo Kantanka

(Akroponghene) to the effect that he is the custodian of the Ntensere Stool

Lands and for that matter; he on behalf of the Ntensere Asona Royal Family

has been serving His Royal Majesty, Asantehene ,Otumfuo Osei Tutu II with

the fetish god, Obourmensah.

Nana Sarfo Kantanka (Akroponghene) also counter-invoked the Great Oath of

Otumfuo to the effect that he is rather the custodian of Ntensere and its

lands.

Nana Mensah Bonsu had also alleged that Nana Akroponghene had dishonored an

injunction placed by Otumfuo on the sale of the plots of the Ntensere Stool

lands.

In response, Otumfuo tasked the members of the Kyidom and Ankobea Divisions

to investigate the allegations by the two parties to probe the true

Custodianship of the Ntensere Stool Lands.

It was, however, disclosed that the issue at hand had been sent to the

Court of Law by Nana Mensah Bonsu. According to Nana Mensah Bonsu, he

decided to take court action because some plots of the land in question

have been sold by Nana Akroponghene and Nana Oyokohene in contradiction of

Otumfuo’s injunction. He also indicated that he accordingly petitioned the

members of Kyidom and Ankobea Divisions as well as the Manhyia Lands

Secretariat in relation to the alleged illegal sale of lands by Nana

Akroponghene and Nana Oyokohene. In response to why he referred the case at

hand to the Court, Nana Mensah Bonsu indicated that he wanted to protect

the Ntensere Stool Lands belonging to Otumfuo. According to him, he was

allegedly advised by Nananom Kyidom and Ankobea to send the issue at hand

to the court.

* *

*The Petition by Nana Mensah Bonsu*

The alleged petition submitted by Nana Mensah Bonsu to the members of

Kyidom and Ankobea Divisions was read by Mr. Charles Osei Bonsu to the

hearing of Otumfuo and Nananom. After reading the alleged petition, Oheneba

Akyempimhene and Ankobeahene accepted that they were served with copies of

the petition in question. Oheneba Akyempimhene and Ankobeahene, however,

indicated that they had not been able to read the contents of the alleged

petition.

*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, I want to find out from the members of Kyidom amd

Ankobea in relation to how far they have been able to deal with the

Ntensere Stool issue. How many years have they spent so far on the case at

hand?

*Oheneba Akyempimhene*: We have spent two years on the case at hand.

Otumfuo Akyeame, we have been able to investigate and resolve the issue at

hand. In the process of our investigations, a 3-member delegation, led by

Baffour Nsumankwahene, was sent to further investigate the status of the

fetish,Tano Obourmensah which was the core of the issue at hand. Our

findings revealed that Ntensere and its fetish, Tano Obourmensah rightfully

belong to Nana Akroponghene

*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, so why haven’t they given me their report or findings

till today?

*Oheneba Akyempimhene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we made an attempt to submit our

final report to Otumfuo some time ago at Sankorase but Nana Ankobeahene

prompted that the investigations were still on-going, hence, we could not

give the final report to Otumfuo

*Otumfuo*:I want to find out from Ankobeahene if the Committee had finished

with its investigations or not

*Ankobeahene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we have not finished with our

investigations. We were tasked by Otumfuo to find out the true ownership of

the fetish god, whose fetish or owner is the custodian of the Ntensere

Stool Lands.

*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, the term of the reference for the Committee was to

investigate whether the fetish god belongs to Akroponghene or Mensah Bonsu

so that we could resolve the issue at hand. The Committee was to find out

the historical background of Ntensere Stool as well as the fetish god in

relation to its ownership. I want to find out from Ankobea and Kyidom if

they have finished with their investigations.

*Ankobeahene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, the Committee is yet to sit on the issue

and make the necessary conclusions and recommendations

*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, I want to find out from the Committee if they have been

able to listen to all statements from both parties.

*Oheneba Akyempimhene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, yes .We have heard from both

parties in connections with their allegations and statements.

*Nana Toasehene*: Otumfuo Akyeame, if Nana Mensah Bonsu’s invocation of the

Great Oath was not counter-invoked by Nana Akroponghene, then, we believe

that Nana Mensah Bonsu is the true owner of the Ntensere Stool Lands.

*Kyidom*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we suggest that Otumfuo should rather look into

the issue at hand and help to resolve it amicably because we cannot rely on

the Committee.

*Gyase*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we suggest that the Committee should be made to

submit its final report to Otumfuo and Nananom for the necessary action to

be taken. This would help us to reveal the true ownership of the Ntensere

Stool Lands.

*Ankobea*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we also propose that Otumfuo should let the

Committee to present their report to enable us resolve the issue at hand.

*Manwere*: Otumfuo Akyeame, we also propose that Otumfuo should let the

Committee to present their report to enable us resolve the issue at hand.

*Nkosuo*: Otumfuo Akyeame ,we plead with Otumfuo to allow the Committee to

submit their findings to Otumfuo and Nananom so that we could share our

opinions to resolve the issue at hand.

*Akyeame*: We believe that the Committee could not do the work assigned to

them; hence, they have to be punished accordingly for negligence of duty.

After this ,we could take the necessary measures to ensure that the

Ntensere issue is amicably resolved .Also, we want to indicate that all the

parties involved in the case at hand need to be customarily penalized for

their inactions and actions in relation to the Ntensere Stool.

*OTUMFUO’S VERDICT*

*Otumfuo*: Akyeame, I am highly disappointed in my son, Akyempimhene, for

his inability to resolve this simple and straightforward issue. The issue

of Ntensere Stool Lands should not be so complicated to overpower him. How

could he disappoint me in such a woeful manner? Who is the originator of

the fetish god, Obour? I intentionally entrusted the issue at hand to them

just to find out how best they could express their prowess so far as

resolving such stool matter is concerned. The Committee could have used

just one week to investigate and resolve this type of case. Why do the

members of the Committee have to allow their dignity and integrity to be

dented by these men through bribes from the proceeds of their illegal sale

of the land in question? Why do they have to condone and connive with such

unscrupulous men to cover up the truth? The fetish god, Obour though

situated in Ntensere has its overlord. What authority does anyone have to

enable him take the overall control of Ntensere and its fetish god? I want

you to spare me with your falsehood. This is a mere case that needs not be

prolonged to this extent. I have recently been flexible and tolerable just

to give Nananom some space to operate. However, they have capitalized on my

flexibility and leniency as a chance to promote untruthfulness in their

routine activities. For this reason, I would restore and strengthen my

strict and stern ways of doing things so far as stool affairs are

concerned.

Where does Obour, the fetish god get its livelihood from at Ntensere? After

finding the source of livelihood of the fetish god, the Committee should

have also looked for the custodians of the said god, as the fetish god,

Obourmensah is the owner of the Ntensere Stool Lands. This is exactly what

the Committee was supposed to look for. The fact is that, Akroponghene has

Odikro who exist in Ntensere and swears an oath of allegiance to

Akroponghene while the Fetish Priest (Bosomfuo) for the god, Obourmensah

also plays a separate traditional role at Ntensere as Ntensere Bosomfuo.

Why should this simple issue degenerate into a big problem? It is the

responsibility of the Akroponghene to find someone to occupy the position

of Odikro at Ntensere.

Nana Mensah Bonsu and the Ntensere Asona Royal Family who are the

Custodians of the fetish god, Obourmensah should also select the fetish

Priest(Bosomfuo) for the fetish god ,Obourmensah and present him to me

through the Nsumankwahene. This could pave way for the necessary customary

arrangements to be made. The fetish god, Obour should properly be respected

and served so that peace could prevail at Ntensere. I am not talking about

plots of land at Ntensere. I declare that the fetish god, Obour, should be

handed over to its rightful custodians at Ntensere. After this, I want all

the custodians and elders of the fetish god to be invited to the Manhyia

Palace. We would then demarcate the Ntensere Stool lands which belong to

the Fetish Priest (Bosomfuo) of the fetish god,Obourmensah and give some to

the Odikro of Akroponghene who exist in Ntensere. All parties including

Odikro of Akroponghene who exist in Ntensere, Akroponghene and the Fetish

Priest (Bosomfuo) of the fetish god,Obourmensah as well as the elders of

the Ntensere Asona Royal Family should come to Manhyia Palace for the

necessary arrangements in connection with the Ntensere Stool Lands to be

made. I do not want Akroponghene to meddle himself in the selection process

of the would-be Odikro. The selection process must be done by the family

which is rightfully responsible for choosing the Odikro. After his

selection, the would-be Odikro will have to be introduced to Akroponghene

so that he could swear an oath of allegiance to him. Also, after the

demarcation and distribution of the plots of the Ntensere Stool Lands among

the various parties, I would ensure that all misunderstandings are resolved

amicably. I would also like to reiterate that any person who decides to

seek a redress of a case by the court of law will also have to receive his

or her traditional position or title by the same court.

I give you two weeks to make the necessary actions as I have directed today

to enable me to meet the parties for the final arrangements to be made. I

also reiterate that nobody should tresspass or sell any plot of the land in

question.