Tension At Wassa-Amenfi

Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister
Tension is mounting at Asankragwa in the Wassa-Amenfi District of the Western Region as a result of a planned installation of a chief by the Agona clan.

However, a rival clan, the Ahene, has promised a showdown.

The death of Nana Anyani Boadum III, who occupied the Asankragwa stool for 62 years, has given rise to the seemingly volatile situation.

DAILY GUIDE learned that Abusuapanyin Asamoah Tannor, a pensioner at Asankragwa, had gone to the Wassa-Amenfi Traditional Council at Wassa Akropong and sworn an affidavit to the effect that the stool of Asankragwa is owned by the Ahene family of the town. The report of the Omanhene also confirmed that the stool belonged to that family.

The Abusuapanyin's affidavit stated that '…the Ahene family of Asankragwa, through himself and two others, sued Nana Anyani Boadum before the judicial committee of the Wassa-Amenfi Traditional Council and obtained an order restraining him from styling himself as the chief of Asankragwa and also from having any dealings with the stool lands, stool revenue and royalties accruing to the stool of Asankragwa.'

It additionally stated that 'Nana Boadum has gone to join the ancestors and the Agonas are feverishly preparing to nominate a candidate to occupy the stool of Asankragwa, contrary to custom, usage and traditions of the people.'

Tackie Otoo and Company, legal practitioners, have written to the Western Regional Police Commander at Sekondi, informing him of the situation on the ground, and stated that Abusuapanyin Appiah Dwaa, in conjunction with Ohemaa Ama Boa of the Agona family, are feverishly planning to install a chief to succeed the late chief.

The lawyers further stated that their client (the Ahene family) was armed with an action before the judicial committee of the Wassa-Amenfi Traditional Council to challenge the conduct of the Agonas and an application for injunction to restrain them from carrying out that exercise. The lawyers added that the two persons, who are leading the installation, had gone into hiding to evade service of the writ of summons on them.

When contacted, Abusuapanyin Appiah Dwaa stated that the installation would come off as planned and that reports that tension was brewing in the area must be treated with contempt.

When reached, the Registrar of the Wassa-Amenfi Traditional Council, Anthony Yeboah Tabiri, confirmed that after the death of the chief about a month ago, the Ahene family filed a petition to the council and that it was yet to meet to settle the issue between the two clans - Agonas and the Ahenes - only to realise that the Agona family was planning to install a chief on Monday July 28, 2014.

The Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Ayittey, stated that the police would proceed to court to restrain the Agona family from installing a chief until the atmosphere became conducive.

The Coordinating Director of the Wassa-Amenfi District Assembly, Abubakari Alhassan, said that there had not been any official communication to the District Security Committee (DISEC) of any rival faction to the planned installation of a new chief.