Zain Pulls Out Of Osu Royal Mausoleum

The management of Zain Communications Ghana Limited has withdrawn its interest in acquiring the Osu Royal Mausoleum for the erection of a mast .

The company has also apologised to the elders and people of the Osu Traditional Area for any offence the intended action may have caused to their sensibilities.

“Zain Ghana hereby reiterates its respect and appreciation for Ghanaian cultural traditions and sensibilities and will never knowingly trample upon them,” the company said, adding that management had not been made aware that the site was a cemetery.

A statement signed by the company's Corporate and External Affairs Director, Ms Ursular Owusu, said Zain saw it prudent to suspend its acquisition of the mausoleum because the promotion of arts and culture was one of its key areas of focus for its corporate social responsibilities.

It said that the company had, therefore, ceased all operations at the site and intended to relocate the mast at the earliest possible opportunity.

It would further investigate that unfortunate situation with the agents to enable the company to take any necessary action.

“Ultimately, we take full responsibility for this unfortunate incident and will ensure that nothing of this nature happens again,” the statement assured.

It explained that as part of the process of building its network infrastructure to facilitate the provision of telecommunication services, Zain Ghana engaged the services of site acquisition agents and the mausoleum was one of several sites procured, noting that Zain had not been made aware that it was a burial place.

The proposed lease of the cemetery to Zain by some Osu elders was fiercely resisted by Asafoatse Nii Akapeh II, the Dzaase Asafoatse of the Mankralo Stool, and other members of the Asafo companies.

The enraged Nii Akapeh described the whole transaction which resulted in the erection of a giant mast at the cemetery, which is the burial place of Osu Royals, as highly provocative and sacrilegious.

He said it constituted a desecration of what the people held sacred and promised an appropriate reaction.