VR: Somé Traditional Area bans MCE and Six Assembly Members

The Somé Traditional Area, in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region has withdrawn all traditional courtesies hitherto accorded the Municipal Chief Executive, Elliot Agbenorwu and the District Commander at Denu, ASP Joseph Nakoja over their alleged “misconducts”.

The chiefs have also withdrawn similar courtesies to the District Coordinator of the National investigations Bureau (NiB/BNI), Donald Kwara and Six other Assemblymen, namely Sylvester Kumawu, Amutinu-Salakorpe Electoral Area; Clemence Agbotey, Blekusu Electoral Area; Daniel Azumah, Kpedzakorpe/Alagbakorpe Electoral Area; Jonas Alevia Agbagba, Nogokpo Ativuta Electoral Area; Johnson Agbeko Souzey, Adina Electoral Area; and Eben Assay, Agavedzi Electoral Area.

A statement dated February 12, 2021, and signed by Torgbi Adamah lll (the Makorsor of Somé) noted that “recently, the Assembly Members of the Adina, Amutinu/Salakorpe, Agavedzi, Blekusu, Nogokpo/Ativuta/Agbevekorpe and Kpedzakorpe/Alagbakorpe have exhibited gross misconduct against the Somé Paramountcy”.

According to the statement, the (Assemblymen) raised some concerns in the media, and when he invited them to a meeting to discuss those concerns, they refused to honour the invitation.

“…they did not even show the courtesy of telling me they would not come. We have contained the situation for a long time. But the situation has now got out of hand”.

Torgbi noted in his submission that, “in view of the misconduct of these Assembly Members their blatant disrespect to me and their punitive disregard for my authority, I hereby declare and ask that henceforth you, the Chiefs, the Dumegawo (elders and opinion leaders) and the Citizens of the Somé Traditional Area, withdraw all the traditional courtesies that you had hitherto accorded them. You should not address them as Honourables. Do not invite them to your meetings or social functions, we have had enough of the impunity of these assembly members. It is time to cut them to their sizes”.

He mentioned that some of the Assemblymen have even arrogated some of the customary duties of the chiefs to themselves by settling disputes, an act which is wrong.

“It is common knowledge that some of the Assembly Members of the Somé Traditional Area do not give the traditional rulers the due respect. They do not consult them before taking pertinent decisions. They call meetings without the knowledge of the chiefs,” the statement noted.

The Municipal Chief and some individuals have been fighting Torgbi Adamah and his Chiefs for some time over many issues including the management of the Agbozume Market and Hedranaw/Denu Market.

But the recent power struggle has to do with the disbursement of funds/compensations by Seven Seas Salt Limited also known as Adina Salt Factory to beneficiary communities along the Keta Lagoon Complex.

By Edzorna Francis Mensah