House of Chiefs decides fate of Bunkprugu Chief

The Judicial Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs is set to pronounce a verdict to ultimately end hostilies in Bunkprugu where a decade old chieftaincy dispute between two Bimoaba families has slackened progress of the infant district and a major sorghum producer in Ghana’s food basket.

The much awaited ruling will determine the fate of Alhaji Abuba Nasinmong, Chief of the area whose reign has been fraught with bloodshed and insecurity.

A Research Officer at the House of Chiefs, Humphrey Kuupile told Kasapa News “plans are far advanced to stamp an authority on the nine year old deadly kingship strife that has shattered and completely retarded the isolated and poverty struck district.

Humphrey said factors including financial constraints and attitude of lawyers that stymied efforts for smooth and uninterrupted hearing had been arduously resolved, adding that “if the case is able to come the way the House has planned, by second quarter of this year it should be done”.

A misunderstanding between the Jamong and Jafouk royal families over legitimacy of the chief spiraled into killings and savage atrocities in 2007 when internal mediators failed to find early resolution.

The Jamong family wanted the occupant of the skin to have come from their lineage despite a selection by the overlord of Mamprugu Traditional Council.

More than 12 people have been killed and dozens in despondency with extremely few livelihood options when conciliators brushed off and refused to address concerns raised by the Jamongs against the candidature of Alhaji Nasinmong, a jafouk royal.

The Bunkprugu chieftaincy violence grinding for nearly a decade has rattled treasury of government and moiled security forces. It ruined education, health and agriculture and hounded residents to neighboring Togo.

Clashes renewed early last year and two people were reportedly killed with several houses suffering rash of arson attacks compelling the deployment of the Anti Terrorist Unit of the Police Service.

Several interventions by government and other peace building networks failed to make any significant watershed until middle last year when the Bimoabas became weary of slaughtering each other and willingly dropped their weapons and embraced and supported a a ceasefire by burying dead animals alive in a blood sacrifice.

The pact means death for any party who would raise a weapon against the other and for a whole year the warring factions lived in unusual tranquility awaiting a decision on the matter by the Regional House of Chiefs.

They have since returned to a negotiation table to broker permanent truce in Bunkprugu where plot of land is sold at less than GH200.

There are heightening fears however that the ruling could destabilized the region which has already remained tinderbox of land and political divisions as in the case with Nanun Traditional Council (Bimbila).

In attempt to dispel the fears, the Research Officer said it was up to security forces and other relevant bodies to ensure compliance.

“That is up to the security agencies to deal with…for us if the judgement is given, that is our mandate. The rest will be left with the security agencies and the people themselves- if they think all is well with them they can come and withdraw the case”, Humphrey said to Kasapa News.

Alhaji Abuba, the chief responded positively to the statement saying he is willing to abdicate if the House rules as such. He added that he was ready to renounce the throne peaceful in the event verdict did not go in his favour.

“Me, Alhaji Nasinmong I don’t have a problem. I cannot reject the ruling of the House of Chiefs…. Immediately the court ruled I have to accept it. They cannot say that the skin is for jamong family: they are giving the ruling that maybe I’m not qualified and show me the reason but even if they say they are removing me I cannot reject, I have to accept“, the embattled traditional ruler pledged.