Don't Politicise Otumfuo's Visit - Chief Warns

Daasebre Asare Baah III, the Omanhene of Worawora traditional area in the Volta Region has warned the Volta Regional House of Chiefs and Members of Parliament of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region to desist from politicising the visit by the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

He said if the misinformation being spread by these groups is allowed to continue, it could create division and disunity in the region.

"I wish to advise my colleague Paramount Chiefs in the Regional House of Chiefs to endeavour to resist political manoeuvring by politicians to divide our ranks," he added.

Daasebre Baah III was speaking at a press conference in Accra yesterday in reaction to the front-page story in The Ghanaian Times last week titled, "Worawora cannot be under Asante".

He said after Otumfuo had attended a festival celebrated by the people of Worawora, the MP for Hohoe South, Mr. Kwesi Kedem, questioned whether it was proper for the people at Worawora to pay allegiance to the Asante King.

He said Togbe Gabusu, the Chairman of the Regional House of also accused the Otumfuo of trying to entrench his traditional rule in the Volta Region.

Daasebre Baah has given a seven day deadline to the Omanhene of Buem traditional area, Nana Aburam Akpanja to produce documents substantiating his claim that Worawora land is for his ancestors. He emphatically stated that the people of Worawora fought for their land and have well defined boundaries.

He said history has it that the Worawora people migrated from Kuntanase in the Asante Kingdom during the reign of Otumfuo Opoku Ware I, in 1732 and settled at their present site around 1774 and therefore practise the customs and traditions of Asante. Therefore Worawora traditional area has every right to pay allegiance to the Asante Kingdom, he added.

Daasebre Baah III said the Otumfuo's visit was not for political gain, but to help them develop their traditional area, which has been neglected for several years.