Sefwi Bekwai On Time Bomb…Concerned Citizens Tell Gov’t

By Our Reporter

Concerned Residents of Sefwi Bekwai in the Western North Region have expressed disquiet at Hon. Kingsley Gyedu, Alfred Amoah and the Divisional Police Commander for dipping their hands in their chieftaincy matters. 

According to them, there is no gainsay that the Sefwi Bekwai is sitting on a time bomb as reported by this paper on Monday, 17/06/2019. 

In a petition written by the residents, signed by Yaw Mansoh, government must take keen interest in the matters arising from the area as far as chieftaincy is concerned and those who are behind this diabolic act. 

They averred that key figure; Nana Ogyeaho Yaw Gyebi II, Omanhene of the Anhwiaso Traditional Area as well as the president of the Western Regional House of Chiefs are neck deep in destabilizing the area. 

The petition explained that by a 4:1 majority decision, the King makers of the Sefwi  Bekwai Traditional Area namely: Nana Kwadwo Twum II (Krontihene and Ag. President), Nana Kofi Ennin II (Gyasehene),  Nana Kwaku Tenakwah II (Nifahene) and Nana Asafo Adjei II (kyidomhene) as against Nana Kwasi Afful II (Benkumhene), in line with our custom and tradition; and in keeping with due process of law, selected and installed Nana Kwasi Danso Asare as the new Omanhene to replace our late Omanhene, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio who had visited his ancestors in November 2014. Nana was kept in traditional custody to be outdoored in a week’s time, but, thanks to these four individuals. 

According to the petition, a letter was written to the police for protection as Nananom were ready to outdoor him in late November, 2018; only to be served with a court injunction. 

“As law abiding citizens, the said coronation was postponed to January 24th 2019, having met with the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) of Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly and having agreed to wait for the referendum on the creation of the new regions to be held in December, particularly,   the Western North. Once again, just at the entrance of the palace, the police stopped Nananom from entering the palace. Reason? ‘Order from above,” they stated. 

They also mentioned that in all these, Nananom retarded peacefully to the residence of Nana Danso Asare and after some three hours, the said residence was invaded by a team of military and police men vandalising almost everything on sight.

“The wife of the Omanhene to be – nine month old pregnant was pushed down and hospitalised. In the process, all the four King makers and seven others including the Chief linguist, a senior linguist full of age (over 80 yrs)and some family members of Nana Danso Asare , were arrested, beaten and placed in the bucket of a police van. They were eventually kept in the Anhwiaso and Bibiani cells respectively; and were arraigned before the Circuit Court, Bibiani the following morning for breaching the Public Order Act among other false charges. After some three months of trial, the court found them innocent of the charges and were accordingly set free. This was after a purported committee set up by the people of Sefwi Bekwai to install the Omanhene had had their suit at the High Court, Sefwi Wiawso, challenging the legitimacy of the King makers to install the Omanhene, had been thrown out with a penalty of Gh 10,000 to pacify the king makers for having wasted their time.”

They stated that Nananom were invited by the Hon. Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and same was honoured and the Minister advised that they gave him some time to settle the matter. 

According to Yaw Mansoh as the chiefs and his people were planning peace, others had planned mischief and with the help of the four personalities, the other members of the Traditional Council had planned to do otherwise. 

They also noted that Nana Ogyeahoho, has not helped the very institution he heads especially, with respect to Sefwi Bekwai. 

“In all fairness and truth, Nana started well with the Sefwi Bekwai Chieftaincy matter by advising the parties involved to exercise restraint as he was going to get the impasse resolved as mandated of him. However, the attitude and approach of Nana in the handling of the matter changed suddenly and drastically, when a section of Nananom from Sefwi Bekwai Traditional Council predominantly led by Adikros presented a document full of charges against the Acting President and Krontihene of the Traditional Area, to him purportedly removing the latter from the Ag. position on 6/12/2018.”

 They noted that it not clear, from the political powers around and the Regional Chieftaincy office, there has been a serious compromise to undermine the rights and responsibilities of the King makers of the Sefwi Bekwai Traditional Area. 

“What is more dangerous in all of these matters is the allegations around that the New Patriotic Party and for that matter, the government of the day has a strong hand in it.”

They are calling on government to act swiftly, and thereby setting up a committee as was done for Dagbon in finding a lasting solution to the chieftaincy problem currently reigning  its harmful and wicked head at Sefwi Bekwai. Nana Addo, Sefwi Bekwai is sitting on a hot dangerous BOMB which could explode in no time.