Okyenhene-elect confined

Kumasi demonstration called off

Cape Coast Municipal Assembly gets new chief executive

Muslim community starts JSS project costing 300 million cedis

Blind students call for reduction in price of white cane

Work to start on Senya-Beraku-Gomoa Ojobi road

Kyebi (Eastern Region) 5 Oct. '99

Odehye Nana Kwame Amoatia Ofori Atta, 48, was on Monday approved and sworn in by Okyenman Council as the 35th Okyenhene at a ceremony at the Ofori Panin Fie, "Okyenhene's Palace", at Kyebi.

The new Okyenhene was sworn in under the stool name Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II. He succeeds his late brother, Osagyefuo Kuntunkunuku II who died on March 17, this year.

The three-and-a-half hour ceremony, presided over by the acting president of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, Osabarima Kena Ampaw, was witnessed by all the five divisional chiefs, sub-chiefs and the public amidst tight security bolstered by two water canons.

Exactly at 12 noon, Osabarima Ampaw, who is also the Adontenhene of Akyem Abuakwa and Kukurantumihene, led members of the standing committee of Okyenman Council from a closed-door meeting in the palace to join other chiefs seated at Eseketewaho at the forecourt of the palace.

The initial sparse crowd at the forecourt and the delay in arrival of the standing committee members from their closed-door meeting heightened the tension and anxiety surrounding the installation process.

This was occasioned by a dispute within the Kyebi Asona royal family over the nomination of a candidate for the vacant stool.

The dispute culminated in the filing of a court injunction on September 26 by a member of the family restraining the Abusuapanin, Bafour Kwabena Akowuah, from nominating any candidate for the stool.

A faction of the family also decided to remove the Abusuapanin the following day over their dissatisfaction about the manner he was handling the nomination process.

It, therefore, came as a relief when Osabarima Ampaw told the gathering that Okyenman Council had already endorsed the nomination of Odehye Kwame Ofori Atta by the royal family and was to be presented at the ceremony.

Osabarima Ampaw then asked the Amantuo Mmiensa (state guards) led by the Apedwahene, Barima Addo Gyekye, to bring the royal for the installation process.

Odehye Ofori Atta was eventually brought to the grounds surrounded by a multitude of bodyguards and admirers.

On arrival, he was introduced to the chiefs, besmeared with powder and carried shoulder high with a twig of grass inserted in his mouth amidst jubilation through the streets.

He was returned a few minutes later to be led by Abusuapanin Akowuah to shake hands with the chiefs and dignitaries present.

After this, the Nifahene, Osabarima Agyemang, demanded an appreciation (Aseda) from the family of the Okyenhene-elect for which 20 million cedis and five cartons of Schnapps were offered.

Osabarima Ampaw then announced the stool name, which was followed by the exchange of oath swearing of allegiance between the Okyenhene-elect, the Abusuapanin and the chiefs.

Commenting on the possible effect of the court injunction over the nomination and installation ceremony, a member of the Kyebi executive, Akyempemhene Barima Danso Abiam Kokoroko, explained that, "as far as we are concerned, the nomination was brought to our domain by the Abusuapanin on 5 September, three clear weeks before the injunction notice was filed".

"All the necessary customary performance was made and today's is only to continue the process for which the injunction was too belated to have any effect on it".

Among the dignitaries present included Mr Fred Ohene-Kena, Minister of Mines and Energy, and Owuraku Amofa, Deputy Minister of Tourism.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 5 Oct. '99

The Concerned Citizens of Kumasi on Monday called off its demonstration that was scheduled for Tuesday.

The decision is in recognition of the citizens' respect for President Jerry John Rawlings and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The two personalities intervened and resolved the impasse between Nana Akwasi Agyeman, Metropolitan Chief Executive, and Dr. R. W. Anane, Member of Parliament for Bantama.

At a Press conference held in Kumasi, Mr Victor Owusu Jnr., spokesman, said it was to review the planned demonstration in view of recent developments.

"The review has become urgent because of the many contradictions surrounding the resolution of the impasse between the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Nana Akwasi Agyemang, and the MP for Bantama, Dr. R. W. Anane on Friday, 1 October, 1999," Mr Owusu added.

The Concerned Citizens said that, even though the demonstration had been called off, they would still use all legitimate democratic tools to ensure that Nana Agyemang leaves Kumasi to enhance its development.

"We are fed up with the politicisation of the incompetence of Nana Akwasi Agyemang and we hereby declare that he cannot be our Chief Executive," the spokesman stressed.

Mr Owusu stated that they are aware that they do not have the right to either remove Nana Agyemang from office or appoint another but they know they have the right to mobilise public opinion against him.

Touching on the intended demonstration, the spokesman said it was not only about Nana Agyemang beating the Bantama MP but also to depict that Nana Agyemang is a "bully, has become lawless and an incompetent administrator, which is driving the development of Kumasi backwards".

This apart, the demonstration was to also protest against the politicisation of the MP's common fund by Nana Agyemang and his refusal to co-operate with assembly members whom he perceives as being opposition members.

Meanwhile, Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, in pursuance of efforts at bringing peace to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), has held a meeting with Mr Agyeman Pambour, assembly member for Santasi, who was allegedly brutalised on the orders of Nana Akwasi Agyeman, the Metropolitan Chief Executive.

The Minister has now invited the 46 aggrieved members of the KMA, who are calling for the removal of the Chief Executive, to a meeting on Wednesday, 6 October.

These were contained in a press statement issued and signed by Mr Yankah in Kumasi on Monday.

The statement said the meeting, to be attended by a representative of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, would afford the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) the opportunity to call for a full session of the assembly as soon as possible.

It said it was the view of government that the work of the KMA should not be disrupted and, therefore, all assembly members were being requested to co-operate with the RCC and Asanteman Council.

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Cape Coast (Central Region) 5 Oct '99

The Cape Coast Municipal Assembly on Monday confirmed the President's nominee, Mr George Percy Eshun, also known as Ato Kwamena Abbew, as the new Municipal Chief Executive.

He takes over from Miss Victoria Naomi Bonney, who resigned in June this year.

Mr Eshun, 37, polled 41 votes, which was more than the two-thirds of the 57 members who cast their votes. Officials of the Regional Electoral Commission conducted the exercise.

Mr Eshun commended the members for confirming his nomination and said, "his victory is for the entire assembly".

The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr Alex Fiifi-Ghartey asked the new Chief Executive to work to justify the confidence reposed in him.

He called on the assembly members to work together as a team to help develop the municipality. Mr Eshun was besmeared with powder and carried shoulder high by some of the members.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 5 Oct. '99

The Muslim community at Asawasi in Kumasi has in collaboration with the Parent-Teacher Association of Nasiriya Islamic primary school embarked on the construction of a junior secondary school block, estimated at 300 million cedis.

Mallam Mohammed Sani Ahmed, Head of the Arabic section of the school, which uses both English and Arabic, said this when Alhaji Ahmed Musah, Member of Parliament for the Asokwa-East constituency visited the project site on Sunday.

Mallam Sani Ahmed said the completion of the block would ensure that pupils from the primary school are maintained through to the JSS in the same environment.

Mallam Sani Ahmed appealed to the MP to assist them in the execution of the project.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 5 Oct. '99

Members of the Ghana Blind Students and Youth Association have called on the mother organisation, Ghana Association of the Blind to reduce the price of the white cane.

Mr George Stephen Kyeremateng, Out-going President of the association, who made the call in Kumasi, said the cost of a collapsible cane at 40,000 cedis and a rigid one at 25,000 cedis, "is too expensive for members who are mostly unemployed."

He said this when he received 20 collapsible white aluminium canes donated to the association by Prestige Club of London, a benevolent organisation.

Mr Kyeremateng appealed to the public especially drivers to respect white cane users on the road.

He called on other organisations to emulate the donors "since the white cane is internationally recognised and also makes the visually impaired very mobile with ease."

Rev. Lawrence Kwaw, Pastor of the Lutheran Church, Kumasi, commended the donors and urged them to continue to help needy people.

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Senya-Beraku(Central Region) 5 Oct. '99

Plans are under way to get the Senya-Beraku/Gomoa Ojobi road in good shape.

The 12-kilometre stretch has been in a bad state for more than 10 years due to a prolonged chieftaincy dispute in the area.

Last year, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles K. Agbenaza, Central Regional Minister, promised the people that if they could unite, the government would consider their plight and rehabilitate the road.

Mr Nicholas Tetteh, an opinion leader of Senya-Beraku, made this known at a meeting between leaders of organised groups in the area and the District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Lieutenant Daniel William Osardu, at Senya-Beraku at the weekend.

He said the spirit of unity of purpose, which now exists among the majority of Senya citizens, was the outcome of the challenge thrown to them by the Regional Minister.

Mr Tetteh, on behalf of leaders of the organised groups and the entire Senya citizenry, expressed his gratitude to the NDC government for awarding the Senya-Beraku/Gomoa Ojobi road on contract.

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