House of Chiefs to intervene in Anlo dispute

The National House of Chiefs says a standing committee constituted to resolve the Anlo chieftaincy dispute will set up a reconciliatory committee next week to intervene.

The committee will also ensure the installation of a substantive paramount chief for the Anlo Traditional Area as a matter of urgency.

The President of the National House of Chiefs, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, told Joy News the disputed regent of the Anlo stool, Togbui Sri III has overstayed in office and that is the cause of the chieftaincy conflict in the area.

The regent has been in office since 2002 amidst protests from rival factions which claim he is not a royal. The protracted dispute resurfaced during the Easter break after the Volta Regional Security Council sent a combined team of police and military personnel to Tsiame, to stop a planned meeting of some chiefs.

The regional police command said it had intelligence report that the chiefs were planning to destabilize the area.

Odeneho Gyapong Ababio says a substantive chief for the area is the way forward and that must be done without further delay.

“We need to find a way quickly to get a new Awomefia. The acting chief should not over stay his period and I think that is what is bringing about the confusion,” he said.

He said the National House of Chiefs wants to take a “reconciliatory stand” hence it would be better for them to remain neutral.

He said the House is unhappy with the pockets of chieftaincy disputes scattered around the country and efforts are being made to resolve them out of court.

Odeneho Ababio said currently the Research outfit of the House is collating data on succession to chieftaincy positions and it is hoped that the exercise would help identify the rightful heirs.

“If you are not in the lineage to mount the stool then why do you create problems for the area? And most of these cases have emanated from people who can not trace their lineage and yet because of their financial stand would want to be called Nana,” he said.

He said the exercise is expected to be completed within a year.