Information reaching Today indicates that the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Mr Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, has ordered for the immediate suspension of the impending funeral rites for the burial of the late Paramount Chief of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area in James Town, Accra, Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio V.

The impending funeral rites and burial of the late Oblempong Kojo Ababio V, were scheduled to come off from Friday October 12, 2018, Today gathered, would have been climaxed with a thanksgiving church service on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at The Most Holy Trinity Cathedral Church in Accra.

But to avert any bloody violence during the event, the sector minister in consultation with the Greater Accra Regional Security Council, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashittey, and state security agencies have stopped the funeral.

The development follows the decision by members of the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council with the support of family members of the late Oblempong Kojo Ababio V to prevent the rightful kingmakers of James Town Paramount Stool and the newly-installed James Town Mantse, Oblempong Wetse Kojo II, from performing the customs and traditions that will pave way for the burial of the late chief.

That decision, according to the sources close to the James Town Paramountcy, was taken by the chieftaincy minister after the kingmakers, heads and elders of the two ruling houses of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Paramount Stool officially reported the misconduct of members of the council and family members of the late Oblempong Kojo Ababio V to bury the late chief without recourse to the customs and traditions of the area.

The sources told Today that the minister was not happy about the misunderstanding which had rocked the James Town paramountcy ahead of the funeral rites and burial of Oblempong Kojo Ababio, hence his resolve to halt the funeral in order to prevent any clash at James Town.

That decision, according to the ministry of chieftaincy and religious affairs, has become necessary considering the ack of consultation in the organisation of the burial and funeral of late Oblempong Kojo Ababio,

Meanwhile, a letter signed and issued by the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, indicates the minister met with elders of all the two ruling houses in the area over recent developments regarding the burial of the late Oblempong.

The three-page letter, which copy is in possession of Today notes that the two houses agreed at that meeting that the two royal gates including the Wetse Kojo We of Adanse and Kofi Akrashie We of Ajumaku Darumpong who were hitherto not included in the funeral arrangements, be represented on the funeral committee.

In view of that, a decision was taken for the two royal gates to nominate five elders together with five members from the Ngleshie traditional council for another meeting scheduled for October 23, 2018.

There have been some pockets of tension brewing in the seven divisional clans of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area in James Town over the burial and funeral arrangements for the late Nii Kojo Ababio V.

This development has, however, created some disagreements between the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council and some principal principal kingmakers, accredited heads and elders of the two ruling houses of the Ngleshie Alata Paramount Stool ahead of the final funeral rites and burial of the late Paramount Chief of James Town, Oblempong Kojo Ababio V.

The misunderstanding is as a result of a claim challenging the chieftaincy capacity of the newly installed James Town Mantse, Oblempong Wetse Kojo II, to perform the necessary customary rites for the funeral and burial of the late Oblempong Kojo Ababio.

It is believed that the decision taken by the ministry of chieftaincy and religious affairs will ensure peace and harmony before, during and after the burial and funeral of the lake Nii Kojo Ababio V.

Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio V passed away on December 22, 2017 after a short illness.