Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II has insisted that he remains the legitimate Chief of
Bibiani in the Western North Region.
Nana, who has faced decades-long challenge to his legitimacy, has stated that all the facts and
recent history attest to the fact that he is the legitimate Chief of Bibiani.
Nana Ngoah said this at a press conference this week.
He said that indeed aspects of the matter has travelled as high as the Supreme Court of Ghana,
and at all points, he has come out as victorious.
(Below is the full statement delivered by Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II at the press
conference).
I want to set the records straight and put all the facts out for the people of Bibiani to judge for
themselves whether I am the Chief of Bibiani or a former chief of Bibiani as claimed by my
detractors.
On the 28th July, 1997, some of my sub-chiefs and the purported Queen mother of
Bibiani/Kyekyewere Nana Abena Birago II filed destoolment charges against me at the Judicial
Committee of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council to remove me as the chief of
Bibiani/Kyekyewere and Krontihene of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area.
On the 9th September, 1999 the Judicial Committee of the Sefwi Ahwiaso Traditional Council
(SATC) upheld the destoolment charges against me. However, on 16th September, 1999 I filed
an appeal against this decision destooling me to the Judicial Committee of the Western Regional
House of Chiefs (WRHC).
Now by the provisions of Section 27 of the Chieftaincy Act, 1971 (Act 370) then in force, my
appeal stayed the judgment of the Judicial Committee of SATC and therefore I remained the
chief of Kyekyewere/Bibiani and Krontihene of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area.
On the 3rd August 2004, the Judicial Committee of the Western Regional House of Chief
(WRHC) delivered its judgment by upholding my appeal and setting aside the decision of the
Judicial Committee of SATC. The effect then is that I am still the chief of Kyekyewere/Bibiani
and Krontihene of the Sefwi Ahwiaso Traditional Area.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the problem in Bibiani is that one Charles Kwabena Frimpong claims to
have been enstooled as Bibianihene with the stool name Nana Anarfi Ababio II in October 1999
at the time my appeal was already pending and same had stayed the judgment of the SATC
destooling me.
So I brought contempt of court charges against this Charles Kwabena Frimpong and the
Omanhene of Sefwi Anwhiaso Traditional Area Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi at the High Court, Sefwi
Wiawso.
Whilst the contempt charges were pending at the High Court, Charles Kwabena Frimpong and
the Omanhene appealed all the way to the Supreme Court contending that Charles Kwabena
Frimpong was the chief of Bibiani and so my contempt charges were in fact a cause or matter
affecting chieftaincy and so the High Court had no jurisdiction.
“The Supreme Court of Ghana in its Judgment in Civil Appeal No. J4/54/2016 dated 18th
October, 2017 in: REPUBLIC VRS
OGYEAHOHO YAW GYEBI CHARLES KWABENA FRIMPONG
EX PARTE: NANA NGOA ANYIMA KODOM II; made it clear that since my appeal was filed
on 16 September, 1999 and Charles Kwabena Frimpong claims to have been enstooled in
October 1999, he could not have acquired the status of a chief because my appeal stayed the
judgment of the SATC.”
The Supreme Court therefore concluded that the contempt charges cannot be a cause or matter
affecting chieftaincy and so Charles Kwabena Frimpong and the Omanhene should go back to
the High Court to answer the contempt charges and dismissed their appeal.
Now, the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the WRHC in setting aside the judgment of the
SATC destooling me stated, “in other words Plaintiffs/Respondents to commence fresh action
for destoolment provided they conform to the normal legal and customary requirements with an
entirely new panel and to move to a neutral town preferably Bibiani for hearing”.
“I will therefore use this opportunity to warn prospective land acquirers in Bibiani that I am the
only person who can give them valid title to any land they wish to acquire in Bibiani. If they deal
with any other person in respect of Bibiani land, they risk losing both the land and their money.”
