Akwamu Council summons Rawlings

The former President, Mr. Jerry John Rawlings, has been summoned before the Akwamu Traditional Council on Friday over the disputed land he acquired from the Kronti Adonte family.

Also to appear is the chief of Kyease, Nana Ansah Prem III, who sold the land to the ex-President.

The chief recently decided to take back the six plots of land, saying he was under persistent pressure from his fam ily – KrontiAdonte - who argued that the former President had done virtually nothing for the people of Akwamu.

The summons inviting the ex-President or his representative came in the wake of media reports alleging that the withdrawal of the land was as a result of pressure mounted by Dr. Barfour Adjei Barwuah, Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, who was said to have bought out the ex-President by paying far in excess of what Mr. Rawlings offered.

In a bid to bring peace and harmony, a letter dated December 3 this year signed by the registrar of the traditional council also invited all the members of the stool land to attend the meeting.

Some of the council members The Chronicle spoke to expressed shock and dismay at the conduct of Nana Prem. They indicated that although he owned the land he had no legal right to withdraw it from Mr. Rawlings who lawfully acquired it.

But another council member supported the chief, saying “When I heard that Mr. Rawlings bought the plot from Nana at Akwamufie, I was not happy, to be frank with you. I disliked the idea because the man has virtually done nothing for the people of Akwamu. Look, I personally don’t want to see or hear from both Mr. Rawlings and his wife.”

Mr. Victor Smith, the former president’s aide confirmed that the traditional council had invited Mr. Rawlings.

“I was verbally informed about the invitation. If a formal letter comes I may represent the old man since he is out of the country.”

Meanwhile The Chronicle has learnt that the bank draft that was sent to the ex-President as a refund of his ?36 million through Tetteh Quarshie branch of Ghana Commercial Bank has since been returned to the traditional council in anticipation of a legal suit should the chief fail to allow Mr. Rawlings to develop the land