Wassa Fiase Traditional Area in the Western Region and undisputedly one of the naturally endowed in Ghana, has rather been engulfed in protracted chieftaincy disuptes for over 17 years, thereby hampering peace, order, unity and development there.
Disputed Pockets of Chaos, Anarchy, Animosity
As a result, the hitherto peaceful area has been greeted with disputed pockets of chaos, anarchy, animosity drifting into a time bomb, our investigations have shown. It further revealed that under the 17 year old protracted journey of chieftaincy dispute, the Paramountcy has been at the centre of the controversy. And within the period, as many as three paramount chiefs have been battling for the paramountcy to and fro, the traditional council, Western & National Houses of Chiefs and the courts – High, Appeal and Supreme without any meaningful solution so far.
The three combating paramount chiefs have been Odeneho Akrofa, Krukoko II, Bishop Osagyefo Kwamena Enimil VI and Katakyie Ntsiful Essel V aka Assouam Nyanmy, whose whereabouts are not known as of now.
Spill-over of Paramouncy Brouhaha
According to our information, as a result of this controversy, there have arisen self-proclaimed chiefs with their concomitant, chaos, anarchy and animosity in some towns as Kosigyankrom, renamed as Nyame – Tiase by claimant Chief, Nana Kwasi Appiah, aka, Solomon Ntrakwa, whose whereabouts are also not known as yet.
Also towns as Aboso and Nadieso, have not been spared this controversy. Our information has it that at Aboso, one John Bosco Quainoo, styling himself as Nana Bosco has been laying claims to the stool there under very controversed conditions. At Nadieso, our records have it that one Paul Ayipa, styling himself as Nana Kwabena Amoah III has been laying claims to the stool there.
More controversies as Public Notices / Disclaimers Pop up
According to documents cited, dated July 27, 2021, and emanating form the Royal Palace at Benso, Odeneho Akrofa Krukoko II is disclaiming the above-named chiefs at Aboso and Nadieso respectively; and that whoever does business with them does so at his/her own risk.
Nana Kwabena Asante I Pops Up
Another cited document from Odeneho Akrofa Krukoko’s, dated July 7, 2019, names one Nana Kwabena Asante I a.k.a Pastor Emmanuel Donkor as the legitimate person appointed by Odeneho and having the traditional powers as well as the Power of Attorney to deal with all issues of lands at Aboso and its environs.
We Are Legitimate Chiefs – Declares Nana Amoah, Nana Bosco
These developments notwithstanding, Nana Amoah of Nadieso and Nana Bosco respectively remain adamant and insist that they are the legitimate and recognized chiefs of their jurisdictions.
Go To the Traditional Council – Nana Amoah
When Nana Amoah was contacted, he charged this reporter to go the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council at Tarkwa where available records will speak for themselves. However, taking his time off to brief us, Nana Amoah stated that he is the legitimate chief at Nadieso, and does not know of any Pastor Donkor and his so – called Power of Attorney. Before his Dwantoahene, James Andoh and Akyiamehene Matthew Nkwakaw, Nana Amoah maintained that he was made Divisional
Chief in the Traditional Area in 2015/16. Nana Amoah and his elders maintained that they derived their authority from Omanhene then, Osagyefo Kwamena Enimil VI and the Obaahenmaa, who raised their status from Odikro to a Divisional one.
Asked if they still stood by their position taking into consideration a cited document from the Western Regional House of Chiefs nullifying and annulling Osagyefo’s reign, They maintained that of the 43 chiefs who lent their support to Osagyefo then, are still at post. So why Nadieso?
The Elders equated their position to a legacy a father passes on to a son while alive. To them, this legacy persists even after the demise of his father. They even claimed that the said Nana Kwabena Asante I was not a true native of Aboso, so how could he claim any legitimacy via Power of Attorney at their jurisdiction?
Use of Brute Force?
We gathered further that Nana Amoah had been using brute force to coerce his opponents into submission via the use of macho men and the police. Also, he was accused of causing the demolition of the farm hut of some farm labourers of one Mr. Emmanuel Essien, and the subsequent cutting down of his cocoa and palm nut trees. But to these, Nana Amoah denied vehemently, saying that they are palpable lies meant to destroy his hard won reputation. He maintained that this had been the stock in trade of his opponents, thus sending to court almost on daily basis.
Nana Amoah further claimed that his opponents, hired some people to assassinate him in his house. Playing a voice device to this effect, Nana said he knew his alleged assassins. However, as Chief, presiding over people, he was not going to effect any arrest in this respect. This is because, as an elderly person, “if you dismantled, the burning firewood, you get cold!!
Go To Court! – Dealers Nana Bosco
When contacted, Nana Bosco charged his accusers to go to court if they felt hurt and did not understand anything. He maintained that his Divisional Chief, Nana Kwasi Appiah had charged him not to comment on any such issues. However, if the issues are only sent to court, he (Appiah) will come to testify.
Before some of his elders – Nana Gyamfi, Nana Anenyah, Sub-Chief Kokoase, and Nana Essien, Compound No. 1 Chief, Nana Bosco indicated that he had been the sitting chief for Aboso for the past seven years. According to him, he had been at the receiving end of his detractors all this while, with them all bathing it to and from court, where his detractors have always been found guilty. “Therefore they can go to court if they don’t understand” Nana Bosco intimated.
Traditional Councils Lackadaisical Role
Several efforts made by this medium to solicit information in this regard has proved futile as the Registrar, Mr. Seth Opoku maintains that most cases on the issues are still pending before court. What is more, the council has to meet with chiefs and stakeholders in this respect before any information can be divulged, as a letter in this regard dated January 25, 2022 is still pending, unanswered.
By S.O. Ankamah,
Tarkie Aboso, WR