Western Regional House of Chiefs divided over elections

The election of the President and Vice-president of the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC) has sharply thrown the House into camps, The Chronicle has learnt.

The 22 Paramount Chiefs, who are eligible to cast their votes, hold allegiance to the contesting candidates.

Nana Kwesi Agyemang III, Acting President of the House and Paramount Chief for Lower Dixcove is being fiercely contested by his own pal, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, Paramount Chief for Sefwi Anwiaso for the position of President.

The position of the Vice President is also being contested by Awulae Amihere Kpanyile, Paramount Chief for Atuabo and Okogyeaman Kwaku Gyamprah.

Information available to this reporter has it that whilst Nana Kwesi Agyemang supports Okogyeaman Kwaku Gyamprah for the position of the Vice President, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi supports Awulae Amihere Kpanyile for the Vice presidential position.

What this means is that a win for Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi as President would reflect in a win for Amihere Kpanyile as Vice President, because he is in the camp of Kwesi Agyemang.

The camps, according to information, became imminent following the decision of Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi to contest Kwesi Agyemang for the position of President.

Members of the House, who are opposed to Kwesi Agyemang’s contest are of the firm belief that since the latter had served in that capacity for years, it was just reasonable he contested unopposed.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi’s camp, however, argued otherwise, claiming the position was not one which could not be vied for, to enable an individual ascend to it.

As to whether or not the House had been divided along the lines of the contesting candidates, Nana Kwesi Agyemang disagreed.

He told this reporter: “I have my supporters and same as others who have their supporters. But this, to Nana Agyemang, did not mean the House had formed camps prior to the election.”

Asked by this reporter whether he was hopeful he could win the election to continue as President of the House, Nana replied in the affirmative, asking rhetorically: “If I will not win, why will I contest?””As a Christian I leave everything in the hands of God,” he indicated.

It would be recalled that the election of leaders to steer the affairs of the House for the next four years was hit by a series of law suits which adversely affected its administration.

Three injunction motions have so far been served on the House, precluding it from going ahead to elect the President, Vice and other representatives into the National House of Chiefs (NHC).

It is not known when the suits would be withdrawn from court to pave way for the election.

However, commenting further on the issue, the Acting President of the WRHC said he was not bothered that he was being fiercely contested for the position of the President of the House by his own friend.

He explained to this reporter in a telephone interview that he least expected to be contested simply because he had served in that capacity for years, with his leadership style known to everyone. But with the turn of events, he would have no other option than to take solace in his records during his tenure.

‘If you follow the history of election in the House, you will realize that there has been no single election where the presidency has not been contested’. With this record, he was not surprised though that having held the front as Acting President he was being contested by his own friend.