National House of Chiefs settles Bunkpurugu chieftaincy dispute

The Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs has brought a long-running chieftaincy dispute in Bunkpurugu to a close, ruling that the Jamong family is the only recognised royal family entitled to nominate candidates for the Bunkpurugu skin.

In its 83-page judgment, the Judicial Committee dismissed appeals filed by the respondents, upheld the petitioners' cross-appeal, and varied portions of an earlier decision by the Judicial Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs.

The committee held that the evidence presented during the proceedings did not support claims that succession to the Bunkpurugu skin rotates among the Jamong, Jafok and Nampauk families.

Instead, it found that the documentary evidence established that the Jamong family is the sole royal lineage in Bunkpurugu. Consequently, it set aside findings that the Jafok and Nampauk families also possess royal status.

The Judicial Committee further rejected the finding that Lambong Tapang of the Jafok family was a legitimate Bunkpurugu chief.

According to the ruling, the evidence showed that Lambong Tapang served only as a caretaker chief between 1986 and 2005 and was therefore not entitled to the status of a substantive Bunkpurugu Naba.

The committee also found no evidence that the Jamong family had recognised Lambong Tapang's claim to the skin by participating in his funeral or acknowledging him as the Bunkpurugu Naba.

As part of its final orders, the Judicial Committee directed the head and elders of the Jamong family to nominate one or more eligible candidates for presentation to the Nayiri for selection and enskinment as the substantive Bunkpurugu Naba.

The committee further ordered the second respondent to hand over all skin regalia and other properties in his possession to the Nayiri.

Additionally, it restrained the second respondent from holding himself out, or permitting himself to be presented, as the Bunkpurugu Naba unless the order is set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Judicial Committee also awarded costs of GH¢150,000 against the respondents in favour of the petitioners, bringing the appeal proceedings to a close.

The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for resolving the longstanding succession dispute in Bunkpurugu and provides a legal basis for the installation of a substantive chief in accordance with the customs recognised by the National House of Chiefs.