Apinto Traditional Council warns power-drunk chiefs

Apinto Divisional Council, a subsidiary of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council, has warned four feuding chiefs in the area not to make Tarkwa an arena for mindless traditional battles.

According to the Chiefs, Tarkwa has seen 35 years of conflicts of supremacy by some four chiefs since the stool of the traditional paramountcy was moved from Benso to Tarkwa. This, they said, have stalled developments in the area as government and other civil society organizations don’t know the real custodian of the Wassa Fiase Stool.

At a press conference organized by the Chiefs who were suave in red and black traditional attire on Monday at Tarkwa Awodua, the Gyeasehene, Nana Dr. Adarkwa Bediako III sounded a stern warning to the chiefs not to use the once-peaceful town (Tarkwa) as arena for traditional battles and conquests.

“The effects of traditional litigation on the peace, stability and development of any town cannot be overemphasized and that as the traditional custodian of the Tarkwa township, we would like to disassociate ourselves from the current event IN the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council and remain neutral and in the consequence, request that Tarkwa should not continue be used as an arena for traditional conquest,” he said.

They have also petitioned the Minister for Chieftaincy Dr. Henry Seidu Danaa Tarkwa through Nsuaem’s MCE, Mrs. Christiana Kobina to expedite action to relocate the Wasa Fiase Traditional Council back to Benso, not later than 31st December 2016.

The petition disclosed, “That we having passed through unnecessary protracted chieftaincy litigation in the past years have now resolved never to get ourselves involved or witness any chieftaincy dispute in Tarkwa or within any area found in Apinto Division. That as a matter of urgency we plead with the Honourable Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs to relocate the Seat to Wassa Fiase Traditional Council from Tarkwa to Benso where all possible aspirants should route to. This must be respectfully carried out latest 31st December 2016.”
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“As peace lovers, we the Chiefs and people of Apinto have decided to take the above stated measures to purge ourselves from any fruitless, reckless, destructive and unproductive chieftaincy disputes which have bitter and far reaching consequences,” the petition added.

The petition was copied to Nana Kwesi Agyamang IX, Omanhene of the Dixcove Traditional Area and the Acting President, Western Regional House of Chiefs at the Sekondi, The Municipal Commander, Ghana Police Service, Tarkwa, The Acting President Wassa Fiase Traditional Council Tarkwa, Odeneho Akrofa Krukoko II, Omanhene of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, Benso, Osagyafo Kwamena Enimil VI, Omanhene of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, Tarkwa and Madam Gifty Kusi, Member of Parliament, Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituency, Tarkwa.