Nkoranza Omanhene and Benkum calls for peace

By Kofi Doe Lawson, Classic Fm, Techman. Bron Ahafo Region

The Nkoranza Omanhene, Okatakyie Agyemang Kodom IV and the elders of the Benkum Division of the traditional area have called for peaceful atmosphere in the area to consolidate stability and development.

He was reacting to a news paper publication captioned “NKORANZA SITS ON TIME BOMB” at Nkoranza.

Mr. Michael Sarpong, a royal of the Benkum Division said, there has not been anytime that some one or a group of persons planned to destool the Benkumhene. According to him the issue is a family affair which should not have come to the public domain.

Mr Sarpong told newsmen that since the Benkumhene, Nana Fosu Kyemere II was enstooled thirty two years ago, he has not seen it fit to account his stewardship to the family as tradition demanded. He said the Benkumhene has sold stool lands and other properties of the stool and squandered the money but anytime he was asked to account he refused.

According to Mr. Sarpong, the family elders, on several occasions invited him to a meeting to iron things out but on all such occasions he treated them with contempt As a results of his unco-operative behaviour, the kingmakers reported him to the judicial committee of the Nkoranza Traditional Council but he refused to appear.

Mr Sarpong said the story that there was tension in Nkoranza is an absolute lie and a trick to divert attention of their call for probity and accountability.

On the party of the Nkoranza Omanhene, he said traditionally, he has no power to destool the Benkumhene but rather if such a thing should happen, it will emanate from his own kingmakers who in the first place enstooled him.

According to Okatakyie Agyemang Kodom, charges were leveled against the Benkumhene at the Judicial Committee of the Nkoranza Traditional Council but he failed to appear to answer the charges.

On the issue of he< Nkoranza Omanhene stealing gold ornaments belonging to the stool, he said the charges are unfounded and ridiculous. He told the press that similar charges were leveled against his two predecessors, Nana Kwame Adjei and Nana Guakro Effah but they were later found not to be true.

Nana Okatakyie said there is absolute peace in Nkoranza and appealed to citizens of Nkoranza both in Ghana and outside the country to go about their duties peacefully because there is no cause for any alarm.