Oti Boateng hits back at critic

Accra, July 17, GNA – The Counsel of Daasebere Oti Boateng, Paramount Chief of New Juaben, has advised Odehye Topen Siriboe to shut up because he shot himself in the foot while he was in confinement prior to installation.

A release made available to the GNA alleged that “Odehye Topen Siriboe has been going round especially hopping from one radio station to another championing a clandestine cause with the aim of discrediting and or embarrassing” Daasebere Professor Oti Boateng, including the launching of personal attacks and vituperations against him.

It said the attacks sought to create the impression that Daasebere Professor Oti Boatneg usurped the Paramount Stool of New Juaben Traditional Area, “which in the view of Odehye Topen Siriboe, was his ‘rightful’ turn to occupy”.

The statement said Odehye Siriboe was nominated as a successor to Daasebere Kwaku Boateng II after his death and was subsequently confined prior to investiture but he committed grave sacrilege against the Stool and was consequently disqualified.

It said a Committee set up by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) found Odehye Siriboe guilty of getting out of confinement without permission; disrespect to the Chiefs and Elders; getting into rage and battery; disclosing the origin of his people and the desecration of customs/taboos of the Traditional Area, among other offences.

The statement said by a white Paper (WP). No.1/93) issued by the PNDC, on 9th July, 1992 and signed by Nana Ato Dadze, in his capacity as the PNDC Secretary, the PNDC Government accepted the findings of the Committee and disqualified Odehye Siriboe from becoming a Paramount Chief of New Juaben Traditional Area.

“This White Paper or the Report was not challenged by Odehye Topen Siriboe and, therefore, its contents are binding on all the parties and their privies. In any case we have our doubts if any legal challenge can be mounted in this constitutional era against either the White Paper or the Report in view of the recent decision by the Supreme Court in the Nungua Chieftaincy case where it held that the contents of an Executive Instrument of the PNDC constituted an Executive Act of the PNDC Government, which could not be challenged in any court, vide the transitional Provisions of the 1992 Constitution.”

The statement said Daasebere Oti Boateng was subsequently validly nominated, elected and installed as the Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area and has remained in office since then.

It advised Odehye Siriboe to ponder over his fruitless and destructive criticism of Daasebere Professor Oti Boateng and to begin to consider how he could contribute to the programmes he had initiated to further develop the Traditional Area “rather than the vitriolic he has resorted”.