Sunyani — A high-powered delegation of Ashanti chiefs and lawyers stormed the Sunyani Magistrate Court 'B' yesterday, in solidarity with the Tuobodomhene, Nana Baffour Asare III, who was allegedly kidnapped by the Techimanhene, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, at Wenchi recently.

Nana Asare Baffour III has been charged with attempted murder, together with his Secretary, Mr. Samuel Agyei Boahen, over an alleged attempt to assassinate Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw, when the latter was on his way to Tuobodom to celebrate a festival about two years ago.

Nana Obiri Boahen, Counsel for Nana Baffour Asare, was joined by colleague legal practitioners from Kumasi, including Lawyer Yaw Boafo, Owusu Sekyere and Marianne Agyemang Gyasi Jahari, to beef up the legal team.

The delegation of chiefs were led by Nana Osei Agyemang Tiatua, Dwansahene, Nana Sarfo Kantanka, Ankobeahene of Tanoso, Nana Oppong Frenyam, Adankragyamhene, Nana Baffour Botuakwa II, successor to the famous Baffour Akoto, and Ohene Nana Owusu Apiasa, Adubinso Kesehene.

Despite the heavy presence of lawyers and chiefs, the case could still not proceed, because the docket on the case had still not been returned from the Attorney General's Department.

Again, contrary to the court's order, during the last sittings, for the prosecutor to present all prosecution witnesses in court, none of them was sighted in court yesterday.The Court has therefore adjourned the case to April 29, this year.

BA chiefs to meet Otumfuo

Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, threatened to kidnap the Techimanhene, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, and deal with him over the treatment he meted out to the Paramount Chief of Tuobodom, Nana Asare Baffour III, the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs has decided to intervene in the matter, by seeking audience with the occupant of the Golden Stool.

The President of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Osaahene Kwaku Aterkyi, who described the recent development at Tuobodom, which led to the death of innocent persons, as unfortunate, disclosed in a telephone interview with The Chronicle yesterday that the House had agreed to seek audience with Otumfuo, on how best the matter could be resolved.

According to Osaahene Aterkyi, after reflecting on the ongoing saga, the house had collectively agreed that a small committee be constituted to meet the Asantehene, on how best the protracted chieftaincy dispute could be resolved.

Osaahene Aterkyi disclosed that as a member of the Asanteman Council, he, together with other members, would do everything possible to have the matter resolved, saying, "I am already in Kumasi to attend the Asanteman Council's meeting tomorrow, after which I will meet with Otumfuo to decide on the date the committee members will meet him at the Manhyia Palace.

He noted that the people of Tuobodom cannot continue to suffer from the protracted chieftaincy dispute any longer, and that violence must give way to dialogue.

Osaahene Aterkyi, who is the Paramount Chief of Kukuom in the Asunafo South District, further said all members of the house had all expressed their willingness to find lasting peace for Tuobodom and the entire region.

When asked whether the Techimanhene was aware of the move to visit Otumfuo over the dispute, Osaahene Aterkyi said the House, as a body, was to seek peace in the region, and would do everything within its jurisdiction to achieve that. Read Otumfuo's reaction to the whole fracas on our centre pages.

National security meets Otumfuo

At at press time last night, reports reaching us from Kumasi, indicated that a National Security delegation, led by Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah (rtd), Security Advisor to the President, were at the Manhyia Palace at behest of President Mills to meet Otumfuo, to discuss how best they could ensure peace in the area.

The Chronicle sources in government indicate that the President was very much concerned about the threat issued by Otumfuo yesterday - to kidnap the Techimanhene and deal with him as he did to the Tuobodomhene, who owes allegiance to the Golden Stool.

The National Security delegation, which also included Dr. Christine Amoako Nuamah of the Office of the President, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) General Secretary, Asiedu Nketiah, Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu, Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources among others, met Otumfuo behind closed doors. Details of the discussions were not known at the time of going to press.

The Chronicle, however, learnt that the delegation would move to Techiman, today (Wednesday), to hold similar discussions with the Techimanhene.

Meanwhile, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council has beefed up security in and around Techiman.

Youth groups from both Kumasi and Techiman were chanting war songs over the development. Unconfirmed reports alleged that some groups of machomen went to the Techiman station at Kejetia to prevent vehicles from loading passengers and goods to Techiman.