Techiman to punish people who break taboos

Techiman (B/A), March 19, GNA - Techiman Traditional Authority is to revisit its customs and punish any person caught breaking taboos and flouting the laws of the area.

Nana Opoku Fosu Gyeabour II, Mawerehene and Koasehene of Techiman Traditional Area, said this at a durbar of chiefs and people at the Ohene Ameyaw Palace at the weekend.

The burbar, organised by Techiman Traditional Council and attended by divisional chiefs, sympathisers and representatives of political parties, was to dispel a rumour that Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, the Paramount Chief of Techiman Traditional Area, had died. Nana Gyeabour said the traditional council would not deal leniently with anybody who would spread false information relating to the gods and the people of the area, more especially about the paramount chief. A chicken or a fowl would be hanged in the mouth of culprits and paraded through the principal streets of Techiman.

Addressing a large crowd at the palace who poured there to see their paramount chief and to ascertain the truth, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw, said the rumour that he was involved in separate accidents on Techiman/Tamale and Techiman/Winneba roads was a calculated attempt to tarnish his image and the people of Techiman. He said he had continued to receive international calls from friends and this had prompted him to convene the emergency meeting to disabuse the minds of the people.

The chief said because of the rumour business and farming activities in the municipality had come to a standstill. He called on the media to help refute such rumours so that the economic activities would bounce back for accelerated development, saying "I am still alive and nobody should fear". The traditional authorities later offered a ram and two bottles of schnapps to the Omanhene's stool.