The Bono Regional House of Chiefs has suspended the Berekum Traditional Council from the activities of the house.
Speaking at an annual end of year review meeting, the President of the House and Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, said the decision comes with the collective endorsement of seven members of the house.
“As we sit here today, seven of us, who are chiefs in this Bono Region, namely Drobohene, Nsokohene, Dwinimhene, Wenchihene, Kwaatsomanhene, Sumaahene and myself Dormaahene and the people of Bono, have resolved that from henceforth we have nothing to do with Berekum, in terms of activities in this house, until they find a way to tell us something reasonable,” he said.
REASON BEHIND THE DECISION
Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu said the suspension is connected to an injunction initiated by the Berekum Traditional Council, which restrained him as President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, from attending the recent funeral of the late Berekumhene, Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II.
He explained that the suspension of Berekum from the Bono Regional House of Chiefs will stand until the Council provides a better explanation to the court’s action.
COURT ACTION
A Sunyani High Court on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 restrained the Dormaahene from attending the funeral on Thursday, November 23, 2023 since it could lead to breach of the peace.
The order followed an application brought before the court by a member of the Berekum Traditional Council, Osabarima Kyere Yeboah Darteh II.
According to the applicant, the decision by Dormaahene to attend the funeral on Thursday, the same day the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu was scheduled to attend the funeral, could lead to a breach of peace in the area.
The planning committee of the funeral had scheduled for Dormaahene to attend the funeral on Wednesday, while noting that Otumfuo traditionally is the last person to attend the burial of a Berekumhene, since the Berekumhene owes allegiance to the Golden Stool.
LEGAL THREAT
Meanwhile, a private legal practitioner, Nana Obiri Boahen, has threatened legal action against the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II.
According to Obiri Boahen, the president of the regional house of chiefs has no authority to make such a pronouncement.
He explained that the right thing for the chief to have done was to give a fair hearing before making a decision.
Lawyer Obiri Boahen has, therefore, served notice to head to court to challenge the decision, as a native from the Bono region and legal practitioner.
“I don’t speak for the Berekum Traditional Council, but he can’t cut ties before asking them to appear. Why did he mention only seven chiefs? What about the rest? This is much ado about nothing,” he claimed.
“This is fear mongering and empty noise, and it must not continue. I will go to court before Christmas to have the decision quashed,” Nana Obiri Boahen said on a radio interview, monitored by The Chronicle.
