The Atuabo community, led by their assembly member, Roger Ofori Zogblah, the youth leader, John Ketibuah, and Safohene Albert Kwame Blankson, as well as heads of the seven clans including the kingmakers of Atuabo, Council of Elders, opinion leaders, youth groups, have vowed to suspend customary services to the Paramount Chief of Atuabo and Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III.

The resolution stemmed from alleged years of unresolved grievances, acts of neglect and decisions that have eroded the trust and unity between him and the people of Atuabo in the Ellembelle district of the Western Region.

Safohene Albert Kwame Blankson of Atuabo, who was flanked by Roger Ofori Zogblah, Assembly Member for Atuabo and John Ketibuah, youth leader, was speaking at a press conference at Atuabo over the weekend.

The residents cited a nine-point resolution co-signed by all heads of the seven clans at Atuabo, the Assembly Member for Atuabo and an opinion leader of Atuabo as grounds for their decision and action.

According to Safohene Blankson, the following personalities and offices have copies of the resolution: the Chief of Staff at the Flagstaff House, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, the Western Regional Minister, the District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, the President, National House of Chiefs and the Ag President, Nzema Maanle Traditional Council, Ampain.

The rest are the Western Regional Director of National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and the NIB officer at Nkroful, the Western Regional Police Commander, Sekondi, Divisional Police Commander, Esiama, Judicial Committee of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Sekondi, Paramount Queen Mother, Atuabo, the Ndweafo Abusuakpanyinli and the media.

The resolution by the Council of Elders said, "since His Royal Highness was enstooled as the Paramount Chief of Atuabo, his actions have departed from the customs, norms and traditions of their forefathers, leading to discontent, division and disconnection between him and the good people of Atuabo."

The resolution cited lack of accountability in respect of a unilateral management of the 150-acre community coconut plantation (kale') without public accounts, GH¢300,000.00 from Ghana Gas allegedly unaccounted for change of a community bank signatory to Paul Kwaw, described as a non-citizen of Atuabo.

They alleged that the Paramount Chief was involved in land litigation and heritage disputes with multiple lawsuits and attempts to claim sole ownership of lands historically held by seven clans.

The resolution added that Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III has failed to advocate for jobs for the youth, despite his role as a board member at the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) for a decade, and yet the youth remain unemployed.

He also evicted tenants at the market under the pretext of renovating it seven years ago, but the market still remains closed.

Lack of community engagement is another reason with no town meetings for five years.

The residents recalled acts of intimidation during the 2024 Kundum festival, gross disrespect during funeral rites in 2023 and an autocratic leadership style.

Three toilet facilities initiated as Self Help Projects were abandoned and never commissioned with the collapse of one and the deterioration of the other two.

According to the resolution, "the signatories are not just suspending their customary services, they are also asking the Paramount Chief to avoid reasserting control, arguing that the 'bond of trust' has been shattered -they see this decision as vital for re-establishing peace and unity in the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area.