Sefwiman calls for amicable settlement of chieftaincy dispute

Accra, April 10, GNA- The Sefwiman Association in Accra on Thursday appealed to all factions to amicably resolve the chieftaincy dispute in the Sefwi area. "We, as an Association, do not belong to any of the factions. Our number one desire is to see to the early resolution of this chieftaincy dispute which in our minds is creating a lot of problems for the area," Mr Francis Assuah, Patron of the Association, said at a press briefing in Accra. He contended that attempts by well meaning Ghanaians to have the case settled out of court had not been fruitful but said, the Asantehene had decided to take the matter up for amicable settlement.

The press briefing, he explained, was therefore to appeal to the conscience of the factions to let peace prevail before the meeting with the Asantehene. Mr Assuah said since the dispute involving the Omanhene, Nana Nkuah Okumdom and the kingmakers two years ago, divisiveness, hatred and fanaticism had been the order of the day adding that the Yam Festival which fostered unity among the people of Sefwi had not been celebrated. He said due to the dispute, economic activities in the area had come to a standstill, sidelined in the sharing of the national cake and that amount spent on soldiers sent to area maintain law and order was high, which was a drain to the Assembly's coffers. Mr Ansah argued that districts of the same status as Sefwi Wiawso were elevated to municipal status with Sefwi Wiawso being left out for no reason, an indication that the dispute could have been the cause. He noted that it would be difficult for politicians aspiring for positions or their focal persons to undertake their electioneering campaigns and also difficult for the selection of best candidates to represent the people at the national level.

Mr Ansah said "We pledge our unflinching support and commitment to any move that would see to the early resolution of the dispute which is eroding our pride as a people, adding that posterity would not be kind to those who preside over the destruction of the Sefwi State.