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Today can report that tension is gradually building up in Zwase, a suburb of Bawku in the Upper East Region, between four factions who are embroiled in a chieftaincy dispute in the area.
The ensued misunderstanding, Today gathered, follows the leading role played by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Binduri District Assembly in the Upper East Region, Mr. Daniel Akologo, together with some senior appointees of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the enskinment of Mr. Azam Abango as the Chief of Zwase under the stool name Zwasenaba.
According to a deep throat source in the Zwase Traditional Area, majority of the people in the area were displeased with the decision by the DCE and some government appointees in the region to enskin Mr. Azam Abango as the Chief of the town.
As a result of that, a group called the Concerned Citizens of Zwase has expressed worry over the situation.
The group, subsequently, called on President John Dramani Mahama to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the matter so as to avoid any needless clashes.
Meanwhile residents of the area have pointed accusing fingers at the DCE, alleging that, “he is the cause of this dispute which has created disaffection among the four Gates.”
According to the group, Mr. Akologo used his position as DCE to meddle in the chieftaincy matters in Zwase.
Speaking in an interview with Today via telephone yesterday, leader of Concerned Citizens of Zwase, Paul Aganda, alleged that the DCE influenced the enskinment of Mr. Azam Abango who happens to be his relative.
He said four people from the four Gates vied for the throne.
“But having used his office to make Mr. Azam Abango the Chief of Zwase, he [the DCE] also sent a team of police officers to Zwase, who constantly harassed the other three Gates (Adebugri Osumani, Kwadzo Amiin and Mr. James Asidwaya),” he said.
And why the DCE did that, he recounted that during the reign of the late Zwasenaba Azki, Mr. Azam Abango’s Gate, where the DCE comes from, vowed not to recognise him as the chief of the area.
“So the late Chief Azki Apiga ruled the area over 14 years without recognition of Mr. Azam Abango’s Gate and for which reason, they fear a similar thing may happen to their own hence the constant police harassment,” he said.
Consequently, Mr. Aganda called on the elders of the area to help stop the police from harassing them.
When contacted by Today Mr. Akologo denied using the police to harass the residents, stressing that the “place was calm.”
The DCE further described “as blatant lies the allegation by Mr. Aganda and his ilk that he influenced the enskinment of Mr. Abango as Chief of Zwase.
He subsequently warned Mr. Aganda and his people to stop peddling falsehoods about him.
