Oguaamanhen dragged to Court again

Another legal action has been initiated at a Cape Coast High Court against Osabarima Kwesi Atta the second, Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area.

The Plaintiffs, Opanyin Kofi Amonoo and four others, principal members of the Ebiradze Royal Family of Cape Coast, are praying the court to restrain the Paramount Chief from holding himself out as such, during the forthcoming Fetu Afahye, slated for the first week of September.

Joined in the suit with the Oguaa Paramount Chief, are Nana Afari Twako VI, Divisional Chief of Oguaa, Central Regional House of Chiefs (CRHC), the National House of Chiefs (NHC) and the Oguaa Traditional Council.

According to Ghana News Agency checks, they are also seeking the court for a clearer interpretation of an earlier order to the National House of Chiefs to expunge the name of the Paramount Chief from the National Register of Chiefs (NRC), on grounds of fraud.

The order to remove the name of the Paramount Chief, known in private life as J. S. Haizel, from the NRC generated a heated debate in the traditional Area as to whether he was still the Paramount chief and could preside over the festival.

In the midst of the debate, the Supi Council and Kingmakers of Cape Coast declared in a press statement that Osabarima Kwesi Atta II has not been destooled, and remained the Paramount Chief (Oguaamanhen) of Cape Coast.

The statement issued last month said , they were the only party with authority to carry out the destoolment of Oguaamanhen, adding that, there were specific procedures, needed to be followed for a chief, and specifically a paramount chief to be destooled.

However, scores of people who filled the court to capacity to hear the case on Monday, left with disappointment written on their faces as, Mrs. Justice Ivy Heward- Mills, who presided over the court, adjourned it to Wednesday, September 9, four clear days after the celebration of the Fetu Afahye Festival.

The adjournment was requested by the defense lawyer, Mr. Amponsah Dadzie on the grounds of ill-health.

It would be recalled that on Wednesday July 8, this year, the Court presided over by Justice Gbiel Simon Surrebaareh, an Appeal Court Judge, sitting as an additional High Court Judge, ordered the name of the paramount to be expunged from the NRC on grounds of fraud.

The order followed an application by, Opanyin Amoonoo and four others, principal members of the Royal Ebiradze Royal Family of Cape Coast, challenging the process through which the name of the Chief got into the NRC.