Mankessim Royals Accuse Minister Of Interference

THE ROYAL Pakesedo Nsona family of Mankessim in the Central region has appealed to President Kufuor to appoint a committee to probe the chieftaincy affairs in the traditional area.

The Royal family has accused the Central regional minister. Mr Isaac Edumadze, of allegedly meddling in the chieftaincy dispute at Mankessim.

Speaking at a press briefing last week Thursday, Mr Ebo Mbeah, spokesman for the Royal family, observed that they took the decision to appeal to the President not in anticipation of any favours, but on account of the stance of the regional minister.

He alleged that all the actions and utterances of Hon Edumadze presupposed that he had special interest in the Mankessim chieftaincy affairs, and was in favour of the purported claimant to the stool, Nana Amanfo Edu, known in private life as Mr Richard Hagan a purchasing clerk at the Bogoso gold mines.

Ebo Mbeah disclosed that Richard Hagan has no lineage whatsoever with the Pakesedo royal family, neither has he any legitimacy to the Mankessim stool.

He again pointed out that an Omanhene ought to be properly nominated, accepted, vetted and confined for seven days before installation. However, the royal family spokesman noted that Mr Richard Hagan did not go through any such rites; moreover, the royal stool is still in his (Mbeah) custody.

Mbeah further revealed that when Hagan unilaterally declared himself the Omanhene, he manoeuvred to get his enstoolment officially gazzetted by falsification, but the royal family, Mbeah disclosed, quickly instituted a court action against Hagan, and the court accordingly, on June 6, 2000, granted the order restraining Mr Richard Hagan’s name be deleted from holding himself as Omanhene of Mankessim.

The National House of Chiefs also, upon receipt of a letter on January 17, 2002, agreed with the Central Regional House of Chiefs that Richard Hagan’s name which became known as Nana Amanfo Edu, be deleted from the files. This order was contained in a letter dated May 2, 2002.

The Pakesedo royal family, therefore, stated clearly that Hon Edumadze, as the political head of the region, has no right to interfere in the chieftaincy affairs in the area.

It would be recalled that, last week Tuesday, October 22, the regional minister met the media in Accra and declared that he had given recognition to Richard Hagan as Nana Amanfo Edu, as Omanhene of Mankessim traditional area.