Nzemaland has no king- Committee rules

THE Committee, set up by the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC), to look into a petition brought by one King Kaku Aka II, praying the National House of Chiefs to insert his name in their register, and be recognized as king of the Nzema Kingdom, has completed its work. The committee was constituted by the President of the House, Awulae Attibrukusu III, Paramount Chief of the Lower Axim Traditional Area upon a petition by Kaku Ackah on the 3rd of July 2006, addressed to the President, National House of Chiefs, and copied to the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture. The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture referred the matter, with a covering letter dated 8th February 2007, to the President of the National House of Chiefs, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, for necessary action. The Registrar of the National House of Chiefs, also in a letter dated 10th April this year, intimated that the Research Committee of the House, at its meeting held on the Friday 23rd March 2007, discussed the petition, and decided it should be referred to the Western Regional House of Chiefs for its comments. This is because Nzema, where the petitioner is claiming to be king, is within the jurisdiction of the Regional House of Chiefs. When the committee, constituted by Attribukusi, first sat on the case early this year, it invited King Kaku Ackah III, the petitioner, and his king makers to give evidence. The committee also invited the paramount chiefs of Eastern and Western Nzema, Awulae Annor Adjaye III and Awulae Blay VIII respectively, as respondents in the petition, and each also gave evidence. Their divisional chiefs, queenmothers and elders also appeared before the committee to give evidence. The paramount chiefs of the Eastern and Western Nzema Traditional Councils were invited, because the petitioner claimed that the late king, Kaku Ackah I, until his demise, was the King in charge of the two paramouncies. Members of the committee, who sat on the case, were Nana Atta Kwesi Brembi II, Chairman and Paramount Chief of the Suaman Dadieso Traditional Area. Nana Kweku Benna, member and Paramount Chief of the Shama Traditional Area, and Osabarima Kwaw Entsie, Member and Paramount Chief of Mpohor. Mr. David Owusu Osafo, Counsel of the House represented the House. In their report, which has been sent to the National House of Chiefs for consideration, the committee stated that there was no evidence to establish that King Kaku Ackah II was enstooled, in accordance with accepted customs and culture of the Nzema people, to ascend the throne as Overlord of the Nzema Kingdom. There was no evidence to prove that the Paramount Chiefs of the Eastern and Western Nzema Traditional Councils, headed by Awulae Annor Adjaye and Awulae Blay respectively, and their divisional chiefs, attended the general meeting called by the King, Kaku Ackah II, by notice dated 14th March 2006, and was scheduled to take place on 18th March 2006. There was also evidence that the Chief of Anwiaso had never sworn the oath of allegiance to the Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema, where the palace is situated. This, according to the committee, led to their conclusion that the Chief of Anwiaso had been independent since King Kaku Ackah I was deposed and imprisoned in Cape Coast Castle, around 1849. 'It is therefore the opinion of the committee that this status of independence should be confirmed by the Regional House of Chiefs, and the Chief recognised as Paramount Chief of Anwiaso.” From the above development, if the committee had established that King Kaku Ackah II was the Overlord of the Nzema Kingdom and should be recognized as such, then it would mean that all the paramount chiefs in the area, including the President of the House, Awulae Attibrukusu, would pay homage to the King. King Kaku Ackah, the petitioner, confirmed in a telephone interview about the receipt of the report, but rebuffed it, saying “they (referring to the committee) don't know what they wrote.” This is because, they did not take time to investigate to find out whether King Kaku Ackah I was enstolled or not said Kaku Ackah, and for that reason, he was waiting for a response from the National House of Chiefs on the report, for appropriate action to be taken. King Kaku Ackah II was represented by his counsel, Nana Akwa, during the sitting of the committee in Sekondi.