The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has brokered a peace deal amongst the feuding factions in the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC).
Since 2020, the House has been unable to convene a meeting as a result of the disputed 2020 elections that elected Tetretteh Okuamoah Sekyim, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi as President of the House.
Recently, an attempt to hold an election to confirm Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado as President of the House, was hit by an injunction notice.
Though a Sekondi High Court dismissed the injunction, after sitting to hear the suit, a fresh writ has been issued again against the House from going ahead, to convene a meeting to hold fresh election.
Interestingly, it appears the visit of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Elembelle has worked the magic.
The chiefs out of respect for Armah Kofi Buah voluntarily decided to end the five -year long standing dispute which has rocked the House.
Armah Buah was in the House to rally the support of the chiefs in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as ‘Galamsey’.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources did not utter a word about the long standing dispute, but the chiefs out of respect decided to honour their son by ending the dispute in other to help the Minister win the fight against illegal mining.
Omanhene of Nsein, AwualeAgyefi Kwame III, announced to the hearing of the Minister and Journalists that the House had decided to end the long standing dispute as a sign of respect for the Minister.
According to NseinOmanhene, given the good heart of the MP and the respect he has for the chiefs, and above all his humility, they decided to honour him by ending the dispute.
He said, the chiefs (name withheld) who are behind the fresh injunction notice have decided to withdraw it to allow the election to come off.
The House also agreed that Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, Omanhene of Essikado, should serve as the acting President of the House and Kwesi Agyemang, Omanhene of Lower Discove as acting Vice President.
Angamatuo Gyan, Omanhene of Gwira, TetrettehKuamoahSekyi, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi and AwulaeAttibrukusu III, Omanhene of Lower Axim will join the president and Vice president to the National House of Chiefs (NHC).
The Electoral Commission (EC), the NseinOmanhene told the meeting, would be invited to formalise the election of Kobina Nketsiah and Kwesi Agyemang as president and Vice president respectively at the appropriate time.
Armah Kofi Buah was happy for the honour done him by the chiefs.
According to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, he didn’t know coming to the House would lead to the resolution of the dispute amongst the chiefs.
“This is a glory you have bestowed on me and going forward I will also replicate the gesture”, he told the chiefs.
Regional Minister Designate, Joseph Nelson, also expressed appreciation to the chiefs for agreeing among themselves to end the dispute.
