Ebusuapayin Kwesi Bediako, Omankrado Nana Azulo Prah,Nana Safohene Ahamanza and Ebusuapayin Kofi Ackon Ahamanza have together filed a petition before the Judicial Committee of the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC) seeking to restrain one Kwabena Antwi, a former Parliamentary Candidate on the ticket of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), as Overlord of Ahanta Traditional Area.
The Judicial Committee is yet to fix the date for the hearing of the petition, following the non-service on the respondent in the petition.
The petitioners claim in their petition before the Judicial Committee that they constitute the majority of the kingmakers of the paramount stool of the Ahanta Traditional Area and that the respondent was only known to them (petitioners) as an active partisan politician belonging to the Progressive Peoples Party.
The Petitioners say until recently, the paramount stool of Ahanta Traditional Area was occupied by Otumfuo Baidoe Bonsoe XV, as the Omanhene, who has gone to the village.
However, the Petitioners explained that by the custom, usages, traditions and practices of Ahanta, the enstoolment of an Omanhene was done by the Royal Stool Head, the Stool Safohene, the Stool Omankrado, the Stool Obaahema and the Stool Okyeame and went ahead to illustrate in their petition how the enstoolment is done.
However, the Petitioners claim the respondent who has not been subjected to any of the aforementioned rigorous processes and procedure was holding himself out as the Omanhene of the Ahanta Traditional Area.
They said that on Sunday, April 2, 2023 they were informed that the respondent was being carried in a palanquin and parading himself as the Omanhene, which is an affront to the Ahanta stool, which by custom, such important rites are not performed on Sundays.
As a result, they (petitioners) were seeking for a declaration that the respondent is not the Omanhene of Ahanta Traditional Area.
Consequently, they are seeking for an order annulling any purported nomination, election and installation of the respondent as the Omanhene of Ahanta and a further order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondent, his assigns, workmen, privies and supporters howsoever described from holding himself out or allowing himself to be out as Omanhene of the Ahanta Traditional Area.
Meanwhile, the Paramount Queen mother, Obaahema Sani Akura and the Acting Head and Principal Elder of the Anona Royal Family, Opayin Egyambura have also filed a counter petition before the Judicial Committee of the House seeking to injunct Ebusuapayin Kwesi Bediako, head of royal family of Busua stool, Omankrado Azulo Prah and others from nominating and enstooling one Benjamin Ansah as overlord of Ahanta.
The other respondents in the counter petition are Paul Essien, Member of the Akade Family, Nana Kofi Amoo, Nana Egya Kwamina XI, Divisional chief of Apremdo, Ebusuapayin Kofi Ackon and 8 others.
The first Petitioner (Obaahema Sani Akura) described herself in the petition as the paramount Queen mother of Ahanta Traditional Area and a member of the Royal Anona Stool Family of Busua whilst the 2nd petitioner is the acting head of the Royal Anona Family of Busua and Principal Elder of the family.
The petitioners in their counter petition contend that their ancestors led by Baidoe Bonsoe were the first to settle and occupy Busua and the Royal Anona stool family was the owner of the stool of Busua, which is the paramount stool of Ahanta Traditional Area and has the customarily right and authority to elect and install a person to occupy Busua stool.
Petitioners further contend that the Busua stool is vacant and that the respondents were feverishly preparing to nominate and install one Benjamin Ansah as the chief of Busua and the paramount chief of Ahanta Traditional Area without the knowledge, consent and concurrence of petitioners’ Royal stool family of Busua.
Petitioners argued that there were presently three gates within the Royal Anona family and custom and tradition were that, the gate of the person who is first to slaughter a black sheep reserved the right to install a person when a vacancy occurs.
Having their gate slaughter the black sheep, ordinarily, it was their turn to install a person to occupy the stool. Petitioners contended again that the said Benjamin Ansah who the respondents were ready to enstool was not a member of the Royal Anona family and could not be chosen to occupy the stool of Busua.
Some of the respondents were not members of the Royal Anona stool family and some have no right to install any person to occupy the stool. To the Petitioners, the acts of the respondents are unlawful, illegal and contrary to the customs and traditions of the Ahanta Traditional Area.
The Petitioners further stated that the respondents’ action was an anathema for conflict and disturbance within the Busua Township and the entire Ahanta Traditional area.
For this reason, they are seeking a declaration that the Royal Anona Stool Family was the owner of the stool of Busua, which is the paramount stool of Ahanta Traditional Area and that their gate was the next and entitled to install a person to occupy the vacant stool
A further declaration that by the customs and traditions of the Ahanta Traditional Area, the respondents could not nominate, elect or install a chief of Busua without the knowledge, consent and concurrence of petitioners’ Royal Anona Stool Family of Busua.
For this reason, an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, privies and assigns from nominating, electing and or installing the said Benjamin Ansah or any person to occupy the paramount stool of Busua without the consent and concurrence of petitioners’ gate would not be appropriate.
A further order restraining the respondents from entering, occupying or having any access to the chiefs palace/Busua without the consent or permission of the petitioners Gate or any manner engaging in any act to prevent, frustrate or interfere with the petitioners access and occupation of the royal palace of Busua.
