Rejoinder: Nananom Sɛbe Mo Asomu a! (Over to you Nananom)

This is in response to the article titled; "Nananom Sɛbe Mo Asomu a! (Over to you Nananom). It was written by the legendary Cameron Duodu; and published in the Ghanaian Times, and on Ghanaweb. I hold him in the highest esteem.

I've heard the Asiakwa part of his story many times. Being that Cameron Duodu, and I, were members of the Ɔkyeame Internet Discussion Group.

So, it is his second part regarding how the Chiefs have failed to reign in Galamsey, that piqued my interest. That assumption requires further interrogation.

But, first for the umpteenth time, we MUST stop referring to our African Religion Asɔfo, as "fetish priests." That was the derogatory description European Christian missionaries concocted for their opposite in Africa. They didn't use the term Fetish, anywhere except wherever they encountered African Religion.

I used to employ that word, inspite of my abundant "Western" education. I stopped using it twenty years ago. You cannot disrespect your own Culture at the instigation of a received idea; and expect the Culture to work for you. Or, for others to respect you. Our collective miseducation is a major reason of our conflicted attitude to Nation, and national development.

Secondly, attending Akwasidae, and other traditional religious and festive celebrations at a Chief's Palace is just the easy part. It requires no summons from a Chief. Therefore, it cannot be used to argue that Chiefs can use that same community ennobling, to address the Galamsey problem.

Physically challenging Galamsey, requires authority that the government has already taken away from the Traditional Rulers. Further, while the surface of the Land seemingly "belongs" to the Chief. Everything else underneath, is controlled by the government. This explains why the government unilaterally issues concessions and permits, with zero input, and no involvement from Chiefs who live in the affected areas.

In fact, the government has three Ministries to manage the Land and its Resources, not counting other subsidiary offices, and commissions. The Chiefs are NOT consulted.

Chiefs can no longer enforce anything on their subjects. For example, Chiefs can no longer call their people to Ɔman Adwuma, or Kwasafo Adwuma.

In the past, the power to summon, and ask for Community Work by Chiefs led to the construction of public places of convenience; Schools; Clean Sanitation etc.

I witnessed this phenomenon, growing up at Atwedeɛ in Asante Akyem. The Chief could put a Levy on each 60Ibs load of cocoa specifically for Town development projects. All farmers accepted that unquestionably.

That's how Atwedeɛ got to have streetlights as far back as 1962. The town started paving the streets, to cover with coaltar. (the latter did not fully materialize because the contractor absconded with the money. The street had been nicely leveled, culverts and gutters nicely laid, coaltar and pebbles trucked in, but contractor left, without completing the job!) Nonetheless, Atwedeɛ was referred to as Asante Akyem Aburokyire by DC Toku, the then District Commissioner for Asante Akyem District.

Chiefs know their authority. They've exercised their authority when they had their traditional power of Summons, and adjudication.

The PNDC destroyed that. They threw away the baby with the bath water. They introduced local government structures that sought to further weaken Chieftaincy, and eventually destroy the noble institution.

The national government has weakened our Chiefs. Now, the government has realized our common denominator cannot hold. Neither can the government's. finger pointing.

The government brings in the so-called miners. The government issues concessions including, insanely, for Forest Reserves much of which was set up by Nananom centuries ago. A Chief cannot stop these miners, and the loggers who are backed by government-provided military-cum-police personnel.

If a Chief were to suggest his people physically engage these Miners, and those who protect them, that Chief, and his people would surely be shown this side of Armageddon. Dankyira Obuasi remains fresh in our minds.

After meeting and discussing Galamsey recently with the Chiefs at the National House of Chiefs in Kumase, President Nana Akuffo Addo said the main discussions would then be held with Nananom "behind closed doors." That was perhaps a cop-out. We have heard NOTHING of what concrete policy he intends to empower to address and redress the destruction wrought by Galamsey.

The government bears the burden. It cannot pluck the feathers off a bird, and then inconveniently ask the Chiefs to name that bird.

It's been three weeks since the President met the National House of Chiefs "behind closed doors." The silence thereafter has been deafening.

People must stop blaming our Chiefs on the assumption that the Chiefs still command their traditional powers. They do not.

The government must act up and stop pointing fingers at the Chiefs.

Now, the president leads a large delegation to a Climate discussion in Cairo. He's tweeted that upon his return, he will launch policies to sustain our environment.

From Amanse (Amanseɛ), the cradle of Akandom, and the epicentre of the Galamsey environmental destruction, I say YATE ABRƐ. We don't believe that any longer.

(I am Kofi Ellison, and I approve this Message; email: sikadwa1701@hotmail.com ).

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