Eighteen villagers bonded by court
Eighteen villagers bonded by court
Wa (Upper West) 21 Feb. 2000
Eighteen villagers who inflicted gunshot and cutlass wounds on each other over the ownership of a shrine (kpalamlo wihi) were bonded for 18 months by the Wa District Court on Friday, to be of good behaviour.
In addition, all the culprits including two blind leaders were ordered to ensure peace and order in the village for 12 months.
Mr Mathew Amponsah, Senior State Attorney, pleaded with the presiding judge, Mr Gibson Adzagli, to bond the culprits pending further investigations into the conflict.
Prosecuting, Mr Amponsah spoke of the existence of a dispute between Dumah Adbulai, (sindana), the traditional guardian in the village and the chief, Bakuli Jabuni as to the right of ownership of the shrine.
Mr Amponsah said on 13 February this year, the dispute degenerated into a violent clash between the supporters of the two local leaders when the Tindana attempted to perform sacrifices at the shrine.
Both factions exchanged gunshots and wielded dangerous weapons such as cutlasses and cudgels.
They fought among themselves, resulting in the admission of one Inusah Issah at the Wa hospital with gun shot wounds.
Mr Amponsah told the court that the dispute reached its climax on 14 February when Bakuli Jabuni asked for reinforcements from nearby villages but the police rushed into the area to avert what could have been a bloody battle.
The State Attorney prayed the court for an order that will compel the culprits to live peacefully on their return to the village.
A leader of one of the factions, Bakuli Jabuni, initially declined to sign the bond, saying he feared for his life in the village.
The judge, Mr Adzagli told them to obey the order and settle the issues amicably without taking to arms.
He tasked the police to ensure peace in the community by visiting them regularly.
GRi./
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 21 Feb. 2000
The 13-year-old chieftaincy dispute at Tafo in Kumasi ended dramatically when it became clear that the Tafohene, Nana Ponko Baffour II, could not go to Tafo to occupy the stool.
Speaking at a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene told Nana Ponko Baffour that "if for 13 years you could not step the Tafo Palace, how can you go there now as Tafohene".
"As at now, think of the people and not the stool, if the people say they do not like you, I won't push you to go to Tafo. I give you one week to tell me your stand in chambers for your final word".
Thousands of people mainly from Tafo who had gathered at the Manhyia Palace received Otumfuo's remark with joy and chanted "King Solomon, King Solomon".
Earlier, the Council was divided over whether it was feasible for Nana Ponko Baffour to go to Tafo as he had earlier appealed to Asantehene to assist him to do so.
Some of them said Nana Ponko Baffour should be asked to give his stool to Asantehene, others asked him not to allow the issue to affect other people while others felt that the kingmakers must send him to Tafo if they could.
Four of the five kingmakers had indicated that they were prepared to take him to Tafo but the Gyasehene disassociated himself on the grounds that the Tafohene was not properly enstooled as custom required.
Asantehene observed that no one had grounds to challenge the Supreme Court ruling that Nana Ponko Baffour is a royal of the Tafo stool, "but it is inconceivable that you have not been able to see your blackened stool let alone perform the customary rites to reinforce the spirit of the stool".
The Asantehene said this was totally at variance with Asante customs and tradition adding that he was not in any way annulling what his elder brother, the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, had done but to enhance peace and development in Ashanti.
The Tafohene known in private life as Dr A. B. K. Anane was enstooled and swore the oath of allegiance to Otumfuo Opoku Ware in 1986 in circumstances regarded as uncustomary.
This sparked the dispute.
His attempt to go to Tafo after the Supreme Court's ruling, led to reported loss of lives and injuries.
GRi../