Navrongo kingmakers oppose Navro-Pio’s unilateral moves to elevate chiefs to paramountcy

Kingmakers in Navrongo want urgent government intervention to halt the Navro-Pio’s proposed elevation of three chiefs to paramountcy status, citing lack of consultation and potential unrest.

The kingmakers of the Navrongo Traditional Area have issued a strong and unified call to President John Dramani Mahama and relevant national and regional authorities to urgently intervene and halt the Navro-Pio’s attempts to elevate three divisional chiefs to paramount status.

At a press conference held on April 16, the kingmakers, community leaders, council of elders, royal family members, and concerned chiefs expressed grave concern over what they describe as a “persistent unilateral desire” by the Navro-Pio to alter the traditional chieftaincy structure without due process or consensus.

According to them, the Navro-Pio recently submitted a proposal to the National House of Chiefs in March 2025, seeking the elevation of the Manyoro Pe, Pungu Pe, and Pindaa Pe to paramountcy status. This move, they say, comes despite multiple petitions dating as far back as 2021 opposing such actions.

The stakeholders argued that the Navro-Pio’s actions violate traditional and customary processes that require broad consultation with the Council of Elders and key figures within the traditional governance structure.

Among the numerous petitions cited during the press briefing were submissions from the Council of Elders, the Kingmakers (Kwara Yigna), the Navro-Pio royal family, and the Navro-Pio’s own siblings. These petitions consistently highlighted a lack of consultation, unresolved land and jurisdictional disputes, disregard for seniority in the chieftaincy structure, and concerns over attempts to create an “alien centralized overlord structure.”

Three divisional chiefs, they revealed, have also petitioned the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, alleging procedural violations, discrimination against Nankani-speaking chiefs, and even self-declaration of paramountcy by the affected chiefs during a recent cultural event at Sunyani Technical University.

Demand for suspension

“We call on the Navro-Pio to indefinitely suspend all elevation processes until all outstanding issues raised in the petitions are resolved in a peaceful and consultative manner,” the stakeholders declared.

They further warned of the potential for serious chieftaincy unrest in the area, drawing attention to the devastating impact of similar conflicts in Bawku, Bolgatanga, and Nakpanduri.

“We have seen the early warning signs. The alarm bells are ringing,” they said. “We do not want Navrongo to become the next chieftaincy crisis hotspot in the Upper East Region.”

Appeal to Government

In a passionate plea, the stakeholders called on various arms of government and national institutions—including the President, the Minister for the Interior, the Minister for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the National House of Chiefs, the Council of State, and the National Peace Council—to act swiftly.

“We want peace in Navrongo,” was the unified message echoed throughout the press conference.

Navro-Pio’s Office declines comment

When contacted for a response, the office of the Navro-Pio declined to comment on the matter.

Source: 3news.com