Kingmakers withdraw recognition for Awulae

Atuabo (w/r), Oct. 28, GNA - Four Divisional Chiefs including Nana Arvo Nyima, Queen mother, and elders, who constitute the kingmakers of the Eastern Nzema Paramountcy have withdrawn their recognition for Awulae Blay VII, as the Omanhene of the traditional area They are the chiefs of Anyinase, Kikam, Awiebo, Asanda, and the Abusuapayin, Tufuhene and the Gyaasehene

They said after almost 10 years as the Omanhene of the area, Awulae Blay VII had refused to render any accounts to the people after persistent demands, while the Palace, the Post Office, the Police Station and other infrastructure continue to deteriorate. Nana Amihere Kpanyili II, Kyidomhene and Senior Divisional Chief addressing a press conference at Atuabo on Wednesday said, over the years, the Omanhene has "decided to live in Takoradi, the Western regional capital and neglected his subjects".

He said the Omanhene was still collecting royalties from the three square miles coconut plantation, silca sand, kaolin, which have been sold and portions meant for the traditional councils remained unpaid. He said when the queen mother and kingmakers of Eastern Nzema customarily destooled Awulae Blay over a year ago, he took the matter to the Western Regional House of Chiefs and told the house that he had only one kingmaker and that was the Tufuhene of Atuabo, "a statement he knew was not true".

Nana Kpanyili said in August last year, the Regional House of Chiefs advised the Chiefs and elders of Eastern Nzema to sit down as a family and settle the differences but "our Omanhene has persistently refused to meet the elders and kingmakers over the past year. "We have come to realise that we have no leader, our destiny has been trust into our own hands and our Omanhene is not ready to serve us but to exploit us," he added.

Nana Kpanyili said the "Omanhene by his conduct has denied the status of his own kingmakers and divisional chiefs and we are at a loss as to how he could sit in state with divisional chiefs, whom he says he does not know," they queried.

"The Omanhene has shown utter disrespect for his own divisional chiefs, therefore, we too, will show utter disrespect for him". Nana Kpanyili said over two years ago when the Omanhene's grandfather, who was also the Abusuapanyin died and had not been buried, the Omanhene travelled to London to celebrate the Kundum festival with Nzema's in that country. This act is against our custom and a taboo, yet the Omanhene has not done anything to reverse the act.