…As group
attempts to install parallel Omanhene
The
people of the MO traditional area in the Kintampo Municipal District of the
Brong Ahafo region are living in perpetual fear of sudden outburst of simmering
tension in the area following a protracted chieftaincy dispute since 2000.
The
dispute has suddenly taken a new dimension with one of the feuding parties
preparing to install a parallel paramount chief to rule together with the
substantive Paramount chief, Nana Takyi Elaji II.
This
development has sent tempers rising, worsening an already tense situation with
many residents fearing a Dagbon-like crisis would befall the community if
stringent measures are not taken to halt the volatile situation from exploding
and spilling over.
Information
reaching your authoritative Daily Democrat indicates that preparations are far
advanced for the installation of a parallel Omanhene of Mo Traditional Area.
However,
as tradition demands, the name of the new Chief it is yet to be made public.
The
Daily Democrat gathered that the group attempted to carry out its intended installation
last week but was stopped in its track by the police who intervened to quell
the heightened tension in the area.
The
paper has learnt that one Opanin Kwabena Nsiah, an alleged kingpin of the group
was arrested and granted bail on 18th November, 2011.
According
to sources, the membership of the group include Opanin Kwabena Nsiah, Dr. David
Mensah Tabalokala, Gyasehene of Mo; Kwabena Bonfeh, former Kintampo DCE in the
NPP regime; Atta Kofi, NPP constituency organizer; D.K. Okra Amoako, Health
Insurance Manager; Issaku Aneyidachi, Benkumhene and Nana Yaw Dompo, Twafohene
of Mo traditional area.
Sources
argue that what makes it even more unacceptable is that these people are
flouting the laws of the country with impunity because the case is pending in
court.
Nana
Takyi Elaji II has made a special appeal to the Minister of Chieftaincy and the
Regional House of Chiefs to intervene to avert a crisis till the court delivers
its verdict on the matter.
The
Daily Democrat has stumbled on information that on Sunday, 2nd October 2011, a
meeting was held at Mansra under the auspices of Opanin Kwabena
Nsiah, the former Abusuapanin of Leera and the Benkumhene, Nana Kwabena Bisakwan
II to install a parallel Omanhene.
The
meeting reportedly failed to reach a consensus on the prospective chief and
Opanin Kwabena Nsiah was tasked to come out with a name at their next meeting.
Opanin
Kwabena Nsiah, the Daily Democrat has learnt, was removed as Abusuapanin of
Leera family due to his involvement in the chieftaincy dispute disturbing the
peace in the traditional area.
The
Mo traditional area has a long history to its chieftaincy matter dating as far
back as the early 1900s. It has three traditional gates that rule in succession
namely: Leera, Dankwa and Pargo gates.
Between
the early 1900s till date, succession has been handed over from one gate to the
other. After the turn of Nana Yaw Dabui from the Leera Gate, Kwaku Gyaga from
the Dankwa Gate was next but was destooled by his own gate because he was not
educated. He was replaced by Nana Kwasi Adae, also from the same Dankwah gate but
was also destooled eventually.
The
Pargo Gate took over from the Dankwah gate after their
self-managed de-stoolments and Installed Nana Kwaku Dinpon II who died in 1999,
which effectively handed the paramountcy to the Leera Gate.
The
current Omanhene, Nana Takyi Elaji who is from the Leera gate was installed but
elements without clear understanding of the traditions of the area started
opposing his enstoolment, which has continued to disturb the peace of the
traditional area for the past 11 years and
is affecting development.
This
paper has gathered that the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs,
Nana Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi, has appointed an acting paramount chief, Nana Dompo
Twafo I, though his predecessor has ruled that the current Omanhene is the
recognized chief.
Inhabitants
of the Mo traditional area have accused the president of the Regional House of Chiefs
of interfering in the chieftaincy affairs of the area.
They
have cited the current MCE for Kintampo North of being involved in the
chieftaincy dispute because he is married to the Mansra chief.
