Nungua Chieftaincy Crisis Deepens As Rival Factions Slug Out Contempt Case In Court

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By Yahaya Tahiru

Some elders in Nungua chieftaincy dispute have appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo to intervene to ensure lasting peace in the area.

According to them the situation is retarding development in Nungua and environs.

“We Once again appeal to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana to expedite action on our petition presented to his good office. We also appeal to the National House of Chiefs to urgently act on our petition to the House to forestall lasting peace in Nungua”, the statement said.

Whilst appealing to the president to act, the elders who are also chieftains on behalf of Nii Odai Ayiku IV, a claimant to the Nungua chieftaincy title appealed to the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and the National House of Chiefs to withdraw all services currently being granted Odai Ayiku’s rival, King Odai Welentse II.

A statement released yesterday signed by Nii Afotey Ahwan II, Nungua Sentse (Stool Father) also appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and all government agencies and departments not to deal with King Odai Welentse II.

As at the time of going to press Nii Laryea Botwe and King Odai Welentse II were also preparing to issue a rebuttal by Nii Odai Ayiku’s elders.

This is the full statement;

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE ELDERS OF THE NUNGUA TRADITIONAL AREA

One Justice Laryeafio Akatoi who claims to be the paramount chief of the Nungua Traditional area has been fermenting trouble in the traditional area for well over ten years now with the support of some eminent chiefs.

It is unfortunate to state that in the year 2008, the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs in a suite – GARHC/AP-2/2008 filed against Justice Laryeafio Akatoi and one Dr. Bortei Doku which was brought before the Kpone Mantse, Nii Tetteh Otu. The House found them guilty and ordered them, Justice Laryeafio Akatoi and Dr. Bortei Doku never to hold themselves or parade as Nungua Mantsemei (ie Chiefs of Nungua).

Prior to this Order by the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, the same chief currently parading as the paramount chief of the Nungua Traditional area with several titles, namely DR. PROFESSOR, KING NOBLE ODBUADE NOTSE, ODAEHE KPAKPA, ODAIFIO WELENTSI was ordered by the High Court in a contempt suit No. BMISC 2922006 filed against him and the late Nii Adotey Obuor, the then Acting Ga Mantse, before His Lordship Justice James Benuyenah Benson who ordered him, Justice Laryeafio Akatoi never to hold or parade himself as the chief of Nungua. The two were convicted by the High Court for unlawfully inducting Justice Laryeafio Akatoi into the Ga Traditional Council to represent the Nungua stool in the House, even though the legitimate chief of Nungua, Nii Odai Ayikui IV has not been destooled, abdicated  the throne or dead.

This chief has once again reared his ugly head by filing a contempt suit at the Accra High Court against the stool elders from Nungua Mantse Ayikuwe clan for unlawful burial of the late Nii Boye Jernu II, the accredited Dsaasetse of the Nungua Traditional area who hails from Nii Mantse Ayikuwe clan of Nungua.

We may recall that in the year 1983, the National House of Chiefs advised the PNDC Government under the leadership of His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings to desist from interfering with the rule of Nii Odai Ayiku IV, the accredited chief of Nungua.

However, this notwithstanding, the leader of the 1979 and 1981 Revolution ignored the advice of the National House of Chiefs who made it explicitly clear to him that Nii Odai Ayiku IV had been cleared of several allegations and charges made against him by chieftaincy contractor and disgruntled elders led by o0ne Nii Botwe Laryea who wrongfully claimed to be the legitimate Dsaasetse of Nungua at that time; and thus imposed an Executive Instrument E.I..118 on Nii Odai Ayiku IV, prohibiting him from performing his duties as the Nungua Mantse in 1983.

This is not a destoolment action because Rawlings lack the Capacity to enstool or destool chief in accordance with our custom. The leader of the 1979/81 revolution later disclosed that he was ill advised and misinformed by disgruntled elders and chieftaincy contractors to do so after citing the content of  Local Government Bulletin No.13 of Thursday 26th March 1964, Local Government Bulletin of Friday 27th December 1968 and Local Government Bulletin of Thursday 1970 respectively all pointing to various false allegations made against Nii Odai Ayiku IV, by Nii Botwe Laryea, and others who woefully failed in their attempt to destool Nii Odai Ayiku IV, the Nungua Mantse in those years.

Regrettably, the son of Nii Botwe Laryea, who also parade as Nii Botwe Laryea II, Nungua Man Dsaasetse, Kotobaabi Mantse and Head of the Admin Clan in Nungua respectively is contemptuously challenging the late Nii Boye Jornu II, the Dsaasetse of Nungua in the High Court after his death but failed to do so when Nii Boye Jornu was alive.

We Once again appeal to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana to expedite action on our petition presented to his good office. We also appeal to the National House of Chiefs to urgently act on our petition to the House to forestall lasting peace in Nungua.

We therefore call on the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, The national House of Chiefs, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and all Government Agencies and Departments to immediately withdraw their services to the illegal Traditional Council headed by the chief, Justice Laryeafio Akatoi.