`OMANHENE` IN DOCK OF ACCOUNTABILITY...Over GH˘6,000 indebtedness to Council
SEEMING CRACKS are appearing in the Mfantseman Council of the Ashanti Region as the Mfantsemanhen of Kumasi, who is also President of the Council, Nana Arkorful Owese, and his Mfantse Nifahen of Kumasi, Nana Nanabanyin Ninisin-Imbeah II, who is also the Mfantsehen of Anloga/Oforikrom, have engaged in hostilities over frivolities.
The situation has to do with a misunderstanding over finances, which situation is eating into the leadership of the Mfantseman Council, and for which reason factions are already emerging.
The Chronicle has gathered that the Mfantsehen is angry with Nana Ninsin-Imbeah, because he has dared to raise concerns over how finances of the Council were being handled by the President.
At a meeting of the Council, on March 3, 2009, the Nifahen was said to have questioned the financial management of the Council by the President, who did not take kindly to it, especially when the concerns were coming from a man who was instrumental in his (Nana Arkorful) nomination and installation, and subsequent introduction to the Asantehene, as the Mfantsehen of Kumasi, who occupies a seat within the Nifa Division of the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC).
The Nifahen, who is more concerned about the development of the Mfantseman Council and its financial strengths, is demanding proper accounting for the disbursement of an amount of GH˘6,000.
Nana Ninsin-Imbeah contends that the said amount, which could have been used to support the Otumfuo Education Fund, or education back home in the Central Region, has gone down the drain.
The whistleblower claims that the said GH˘6,000 was withdrawn “nicodemously” from the Mfantse fie EcoBank account, without the approval of the General Council.
He is also demanding an explanation for GH˘300 expended by the Omanhene on fuel from Kumasi to Anomabu and back.
The Anloga/Oforikrom Mfantse head is also not happy with a directive that the various Mfantse entities in Ashanti should raise GH˘400 to offset an indebtedness of GH˘6,000 incurred during the Mfantse Day celebration.
His position is premised on the fact that every Mfantse and all invited guests who participated in the programme, was made to buy his on T-shirt and drink, and paid for every sachet of water served, so was food bought at the food bazaar, and the programme brochure paid for.
Apparently threatened, a meeting was convened for March 16, 2009 at the instance of Nana Arkorful, per a letter signed by the Secretary, Mr. J. K. Biney, and dated March 5, 2009.
At the said meeting, Nana Arkorful, beside himself with rage, ordered his Nifahen to slaughter four sheep as a fine for daring to demand accountability and transparency from the Omanhene, while his (Nana Ninsin-Imbeah's) elders from Anloga/Oforikrom were fined two sheep. The fine was later reduced to three sheep instead.
Nana Ninsin-Imbeah and his elders have formally petitioned the Mfantseman Council of Elders in the Ashanti Region, chaired by Dr. Amanfi VII, who is the Omanhen of the Asebu Traditional Area and the Vice President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs.
The paper has learnt that Nana Arkorful has refused to honour an invitation by the Council of Elders to answer a query over his conduct, described as dictatorial.
His refusal to honour the invitation was explained in the fact that the Omanhene had previously lost two cases before the Council of Elders, and would not accept another and a third defeat, knowing very well the nature of the case for arbitration.
The Chronicle has also gathered that Nana Arkorful was angered by the stand of Nana Ninsin-Imbeah against the decision of the Council, to parade him in a palanquin through the principal streets of Kumasi, during the observation of the first Mfantse Day in August this year, as the head of the Mfantse community in Ashanti
While the impasse lasts, Nana Ninsin-Imbeah has decided not to attend any meeting of the Mfantseman Council, while Nana Arkorful remains the Mfantsemanhen.
Nana Arkorful is also said to be at loggerheads with the Chief of Moree in the Central Region, Nana Asiedu Kwapong, who has also decided not to attend Council meetings because of Nana Arkorful.
Reacting to the allegations, Nana Akorful Owese, the Mfantsehen of Kumasi, confirmed to The Chronicle that he and his elders had suspended Nana Nanabanyin Ninsin-Imbeah II for misconduct.
According to him, Nana Nanabayin insulted him (Nana Akorful) during an executive meeting last February, after deliberating on a debt the Mfantseman Council incurred during the celebration of the first-ever Mfantse Day in Kumasi, last August.
Nana Akorful explained that at one of the executive meetings, the Planning Committee of the Mfantse Day celebration, announced that a debt of GH˘6000 was incurred, which he said the council suggested should be shared out among the 15 Mfantse districts in the Region, and were asked to pay GH˘400 each, which the council accepted.
He mentioned that Nana Ninsin-Imbeah objected to that, and said he (Nana Nanabanyin) did not comprehend why the council incurred that debt, calling the Mfantsehen and his elders “irresponsible.”
He said he and the elders immediately asked him to walk out, since he (Nana Nanabanyin) was disrespectful, and called for his suspension there and then.
Nana Akorful explained that Nana Nanabanyin had since consulted the Council of Elders to plead on his behalf, after admitting that he insulted the chief and his elders, for which acceptance of guilt he (Mfantsehen) ordered Nana Nanabanyin and his elders to appease him and the Council with three sheep (two from the Nifahene and one from his elders).
Meanwhile, Okatakyie Dr. Amanfi VII, Chairman of the Mfantseman Council of Elders and Omanhen of the Asebu Traditional area in the Central Region, has confirmed that the elders of Anloga/Oforikrom hadcomplained about the conduct of the Mfantsehen, and the alleged treatment being meted out to their leader.
Dr. Amanfi, who is also the Vice President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, told The Chronicle that he had talked to Nana Arkorful about the complaints, and was therefore making efforts to resolve the issues raised by the petitioners amicably.
Source:
