Offinsohene mandated to settle chieftaincy dispute

Koforidua, August 11, GNA- The Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on Tuesday, granted permission to the Offinsohene, Nana Wiafe Akenten III, to withdraw for amicable settlement, an eight-year chieftaincy dispute between the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamuah Boateng II and Obohene Nana Oboagyan.

Briefing the media after a closed door meeting of the members of the Committee, Nana Wiafe Akenten and representatives of the two sides involved in the dispute, the New Juabenmanhene, Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng who is a member of the committee, said both sides in the dispute agreed that Nana Wiafe Akenten be allowed to attempt an amicable settlement of the dispute.

He said the Committee granted the application of Nana Wiafe Akenten on the grounds that all the parties involved in the case would report back to the committee by October 31, this year, on the outcome of the effort.

Eight years ago, Nana Oboagyan and other chiefs, under the Nifa Division unilaterally declared their secession from the Kwahu Traditional Council to form a separate paramountcy called "Aduanaman". The Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamuah Boateng, consequently, appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs for a ruling in respect of the action of Nana Oboagyan to enable the Kwahu Traditional Council to take possession of the Obo palace and other stool regalia in the possession of Nana Oboagyan.

Before the Judicial Committee could hear the case, the Obohene filed and obtained a certiorari from a Koforidua High Court to prevent the hearing.

But the House and Okwahuhene appealed against the ruling and the Court of Appeal, which directed the Obohene to enter appearance before the Committee, upheld it.

However, Nana Boagyan again took the case to the Supreme Court for a ruling, which also upheld the position of the Court of Appeal that the House should hear, the case.

The Committee on June 14, this year, in its ruling, upheld the Kwahu Traditional Council's application for a perpetual injunction restraining Nana Buagyan and other four respondents from acting as Omanhene and wing chiefs of the "Aduanaman" paramountcy. It also declared their breakaway as unlawful and against custom and usage, the Chieftaincy Act (Act 370) and the Article 270 of the 1992 constitution and ordered Nana Buagyan to vacate the Obo palace and surrender the stool regalia to the Gyasehene of the town to ensure peace.