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Opinions of Monday, 24 February 2014

Columnist: Adofo, Rockson

Open Letter to Kumawuman Citizens

Dear Compatriots,

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You may have had the opportunity to read me on the internet expressing my heartfelt views and concerns about our Kumawuman locality. I do so without any act of mischief or intentional desire to slander anyone, but to apprise the public of the facts as pertained on the ground.

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Some among you may misconstrue my intentions, forming wrong opinions about me. Others may give misleading interpretations to my mission. To set the record straight, I have decided to address you directly.

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I have aversion to exploitation of the poor by our traditional leaders who take our leniency for weakness, and our homage to them a sign of servitude. It is on record, how the late paramount chief of Kumawu, Barima Asumadu Sakyi II, of the Kumawu Ankaase "royal" family, presided over the gradual infrastructural dilapidation of Kumawuman, especially, Kumawu. He did so through the misappropriation or misuse of the money in the Kumawu Traditional Council’s coffers which otherwise, could have been used to realise minor projects for the area. He saw the money as his personal wealth for squandering even though; it was for Kumawuman and her development.

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His sister, Kumawuhemaa, is as heartless and without any good intentions about the development of Kumawuman same as her late brother. She has equally an unrelenting desire to satisfy her insatiable greed by seeing any pesewa finding its way into Kumawuman coffers as hers.

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Yes, it is very true that Kumawuman has some dormant account come about as a result of a court order. When the late Barima Asumadu Sakyi II embezzled 1.5 Million Cedis in 1974/75, then 1 Cedi to US$1, the court placed an embargo on funds (royalty payments) destined for Kumawuman. It was to prevent Barima Asumadu Sakyi II from further illegal access and use of the fund. The account into which the subsequent royalties were paid was blocked until the ascension of a new paramount chief.

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The intention of the court was for the fund to be put to a better use of collective interest to Kumawuman, but not for the selfish satisfaction of an individual’s insatiable greed. However, Kumawuhemaa and her cronies are colluding to put the fund to a use contrary to the vision of the court when given the chance hence, her determined resolve to ensure the enthronement of a candidate of her choice by hook or by crook.

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She has promised various sums of money from that fund to some Asanteman chiefs and other persons she thinks are in position to distort history and facts to her advantage. She cannot deny this by invocating the spirits and gods on her head. This is why most of the chiefs are supportive of her twisted history seeming to accord her family descent from Barimah Tweneboah Kodua I.

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It is an undeniable fact that the Ankaase family is not the descendant of Sene Fontom the great, great grandmother of Barima Tweneboah Kodua I, the originator of the Kumawu Kodua paramount stool. I will state the facts at all times regardless of the persuasions of those with avid of power and wealth, and are therefore fabricating their own versions of history.

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Some of you may be conversant with the attitude of the queen; the deplorable state of Kumawu, the seat of the paramount chief and other related facts, so be judges yourselves on the veracity or otherwise of my published views.

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I know for a fact that some among those Kumawuman citizens resident abroad and are having properties in Accra and Kumasi may care less about whatever happens in Kumawuman. Nonetheless, we have relatives and friends still there and moreover, posterity will judge us for whatever decision we make today, whether good or bad.

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Do we nonchalantly sit down on our lap while some chiefs exploit the ignorance of the queen to dubiously avail themselves of the wealth of Kumawuman? The wealth which, could be used to develop Kumawuman as Nana Otuo Serebour, that farsighted and enviable chief of Asante-Juaben, has done for his people in Juaben? I believe the answer is NO! Why then should people see me as an enemy but not a bold compatriot exposing the on-going rot in the locality?

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Some of these chiefs connived with others to attempt to dispose of tracts of Kumawuman stool lands. We stood to lose greatly but the exposure of their nefarious activities on the internet coupled with an instituted court action, they were restrained. However, the queen has promised them the absolute right to do as they want with the land, to the detriment of the citizens of Kumawuman, hence the eagerness by these chiefs to lie in support of the queen and her sole candidate.

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I am on mission to stop all these wickedness towards Kumawuman. It does not make me proud to see human excreta in the backyards of houses in Kumawu because of non-availability of public toilets or enough home toilets. This often gives rise to the persistent cholera outbreaks in Kumawu due to the ease with which the two or three nearby water bodies get contaminated, leading to the many deaths in the locality.

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I do not want to take much of your precious time but please, be your own judge on the issues affecting Kumawuman, especially, Kumawu. It is true that Ahenenananomhene has been canvassing for the candidate of the queen, one Dr Sarfo, reassuring his targeted supporters of having a share of the said money mentioned above. Either he is lying to the people, playing on their intelligence, or his candidate will come to follow the same embezzling footsteps of his uncle, the late Barima Asumadu Sakyi II, if erroneously given the nod.

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Are these the people we want to be ruled by in this day and age, not as well being the true royals? I shall keep up the good fight for the poor masses of Kumawuman.

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I have copies of booklets on the fictitious sale of Kumawu stool lands to some foreign companies that became subject of court case. I am ready to post copies to the first thirty compatriots who may put in a request. I had sometime ago posted copies to some people. It will be nice to have a copy as it is very informative and may cue you on why I am not taking it kindly to certain acts by our traditional leaders. They have taken us for fools for far too long.

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For further information, refer to all my already published articles on same subject.

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I count on your co-operation to liberate Kumawuman from the tentacles of mischievous entities conniving to rape or raid Kumawuman in broad daylight. I am accused of being caustic. I am sorry for that but one will treat our leaders in same manner if care was not taken. They are always abusing their powers and taking the subjects for fools without bothering to note that times have changed and that they need to adapt to the changing times.

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I am taking a break from the Kumawuman issues to attend to other personal matters of equal importance. I was only waiting for the day that I could address Kumawuman citizens directly before retreating, and today, Saturday 22 February 2014, is the day. My decision to retire from discussing topics relating to Kumawuman should not be seen as running away from my duties to Kumawuman. No, not at all!

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Mind you, whenever you express your views as boldly as it should, it is someone that is engineering or goading you to do that. You will always hear this. Are you not wise and able enough to take your own decisions or do things on your own accord and initiatives? Is such an accusation or allegation not an insult to your intelligence?

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Yours Sincerely,

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Rockson Adofo