Three families and two persons in Ahanta in the Western Region are claiming ownership of the severed head of Otumfuo Badu Bonsoe II, the Ahanta Chief who was decapitated by the Dutch in 1838.
The three families are the Ahamanza Royal Family, Anona Royal Family of Busua, and Mmevile Royal Ackade Family, and two other persons.
The families claim that the beheaded Chief was a member of their linage and as such, reserved the right to have access to the head and that it be regarded as royal.
To give credence to their claim, the three have consequently filed a formal petition before the Ahanta Traditional Council (ATC), awaiting a determination.
But, even before the determination of the petition, the battle for recognition as royals of the beheaded Chief appears to have taken an ugly side, as one of the families – the Anona Royal Family of Busua – reportedly attempted to take over the Palace of the Ahanta Traditional Council last Friday.
Information available to The Chronicle indicated that the family allegedly tried to invade the Palace with a group of macho men, and it took the intervention of some royals from the Tradition Council to repel the riot.
Although the Secretary to the Ebusuapayin of Royal Anona Family of Busua denied the allegation in a telephone interview with the paper, the case is currently before the Agona Nkwanta Police Station.
He said they went to the Palace to present a judgement secured in their favour, which recognises the family as the Ebusua of the Paramount Chief.
The Secretary explained that a judgement given by a Sekondi High Court recognised one Nana Kwasi Bediako as the Ebusuapayin of Ahanta, but the children of the Paramount Chief are resisting the court’s decision, as well as creating a misunderstanding.
Even though the alleged judgement, sighted by this reporter, made no mention of their claim, the Secretary still maintains his stance.
Meanwhile, information available to this reporter indicates that following the petition filed by the three separate families, the Palace has directed a Standing Committee of eminent personalities to look into the matter.
A member of the Standing Committee, who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity, confirmed the information, and disclosed that the committee was yet to be constituted.
According to the member, following the important nature of the petition, the committee was considering inviting a lawyer, judge, and some chiefs to constitute its membership.
He added that the Standing Committee had met the petitioners and informed them that it would come up with a fee to cater for the work of the eminent committee.
The deep throat member of the Standing Committee stressed that two of the petitioners, particularly the Royal Anona Family, led by one Kwasi Bediako, had rejected the fee.
When Ebusuapayin Kwasi Bediako was contacted on phone, he confirmed that rejection of the budget proposed by the Standing Committee, because he did not see why, as a royal, he should honour a fee budget for a petition to be determined.
Mr. Bediako said he was ready to appear before the Committee to show evidence that the late Otumfuo Bonsoe was of his blood line, but not ready to pay a dime for the committee’s work.
“I own Ahanta land as Ebusuapayin, and my subjects cannot charge me for a work they may be doing for me,” he charged.
