The Kingmakers(Dzaasetsemei) of Osu have issued a statement to react to Nii Kinka Dowuona Okwei’s (a.k.a Michael Kwateylai) recent newspaper publication purporting to disregard and disrespect the office of the Osu Mantse Nii Nortey Owuo III.
In a statement signed by the Osiahene of Osu Nii Nortey Adumuah IV, Sei Tse Nii Narku Teinor III and Nii Odartey Sro the Osu Atofo Tse, it said, “as Kingmakers of the Osu Traditional area, we wish to emphasize once again that Nii Nortey Owuo III remains the true traditionally installed Mantse of Osu and the bearer of the only Black Stool (Sei Kwame) which symbolizes the authority of the people of Osu”.
He said, “we could not be bothered by the self-styled Osu mantse running around with what we believe to be a fraudulent gazette of which it’s veracity is currently being challenged vehemently at the Supreme Court.”
“In fact the usurper is only clutching on a thin straw which hinges on a certain ‘Withdrawal of government recognition of Nii Nortey Owuo III’ during the PNDC era but this has been aptly rubbished by the Supreme Court of Ghana on 17th May 2006 when the court decided that the ‘withdrawal of Government recognition’ under Local Government Bulletin 23 of August 1986 did not operate to destool Nii Nortey Owuo III as Osu Mantse(see Re Osu Stool Ako Nortei II (Mankralo of Osu) v Nortey Owuo III (Intervener) (2005-2006) SCGLR 628; ). This judgment remains in force and has not been set aside or appealed against,” he noted.
Nii Adumuah IV stated that the State and Customs complement each other but their stand-alone functions are rooted in the constitution of Ghana and therefore no government can enstool or destool a chief as has been the case over the years.
He added saying; “… but while the Osu Chieftaincy dispute is being resolved in Court and at the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Dodowa, the usurper chief has been intimidating tenants on Osu Stool lands with threats of Court action whiles granting new leases too and therefore we wish to cease this opportunity to caution the general public to be careful with their dealings with self-styled chiefs”.
