The Paramount Chief of the Nkusukum Traditional Area in the Mfantseman Municipality in the Central Region, Nana Okese Essandoh IX, has officially been gazetted by the National House of Chiefs, Kumasi.
The official gazette has given national recognition to his successful enstoolment as the legitimate as well as the only recognised paramount chief for the paramountcy, whose name has been entered into national records.
The official gazette is expected to end a 13 year old protracted chieftaincy dispute which did not just adversely affect the development of the area, but also retarded its progress.
Known in private life as Mr Nicholas Biney, the 50 year old professional teacher, who holds a Master’s degree in Building Construction Technology, Nana Okese Essandoh IX, has fully assumed the status of Omanhen of the Area.
Addressing the press at the Nkusukum Omanhen’s Palace at Yamoransa, the newly gazetted chief said “I want everybody to understand that there CAN NEVER be two gazetted Paramount Chiefs to occupy one Stool”.
He added: “So the rumors lingering in the town that Nana Kofi Enyin has also been gazetted is a palpable falsehood. It has never happened before and it will never happen till the end of the World”.
He, therefore, called for unity, saying it was the only means through which all other differences could be buried so that the traditional area could be developed.
RECONCILIATORY MESSAGE
“Now all what I want to say is that the gazette brings to an end the 13 year old Nkusukum Paramountcy Chieftaincy Dispute. The victory is NOT only for Nicholas Biney and his supporters, but for the whole Nkusukum Traditional State, Central Region and Ghana as a whole.
“I admonish all and sundry to end insults, insinuation and intimidations in any form, henceforth, and let us all come together to build better Nkusukum State, which will be a legacy for now and future generation,” he said.
WORD OF CAUTION
He cautioned that it would amount to criminality if any person or group of persons organise a Traditional Council meeting or perform any duties of the Omanhen of Nkusukum Traditional Area without his consent.
“Any such act will amount to the interference of my duties and responsibilities as the substantive Omanhene of Nkusukum Traditional Area. That I will not hastate to take a legal action against the offender(s)”, he cautioned.
What became famously known as the Nkusukum Traditional Area paramountcy dispute began following the death of the late Omanhen, Nana Okese Essandoh VIII, in 2009.
As tradition and customs demand, there was the need for a successor to be nominated, vetted, approved and successfully installed after all other customary rites have been performed
Nomination of Kelvin Ewudzi and matters arising
According to information, there was an attempt by the late Ebusuapanyin Kwamena Bosom to appoint and install one Kelvin Ewudzi, also known as Nana Kofi Enyin, to succeed the late chief.
This attempt was fiercely resisted by the Royal Twidan Family because according to them, Nana Kofi Enyin lacked the legitimacy to be installed a chief, especially as his root was traced to Abiriwa Nguamba from Moree in the Asebu Traditional Area.
This action resulted in litigations, accusations and counter-accusations and eventually set the tone for more troubles as the Royal Twidan Family of Yamonansa challenged every step to install Mr Kelvin Ewudzi as the Nkusukum Omanhen.
According to reliable sources, all the parties involved in the litigations later consented to have the matter settled through arbitration after years of back and forth litigations.
A retired Justice of the Apex Court, Justice S.A. Brobbey was approached to lead the arbitration who also appointed Prof Okatakyie Amenfi VIII, a lecturer, and Nana Amoa VIII, who is currently a Court of Appeals’ judge as members of the committee
Arbitration Committee’s award/Recommendations
After months of extensive engagements with both parties and others who mattered as far as the raging chieftaincy dispute was concerned, the committee deduced ample evidence from both parties.
Based on the evidence before it, the committee realised that Nana Kofi Enyin did not qualify in the first place to be nominated, elected and installed as the Nkusukum Omanhen and the president of the Traditional Council.
Furthermore, the committee indicated that the purported nomination and installation of Nana Kofi Enyin was a nullity because it did not follow the proper procedures, customs and usages necessary to validate the installation of Nkusukum Omanhen.
Additionally, the committee pointed out that Mr Ewudzi did not qualify to be the Omanhen of Nkusukum because he traced his root to Nguamba who hailed from Moree.
The committee, therefore, urged Kelvin Ewudzi to step aside as the Omanhen of the Nkusukum Traditional Area with the stool name Nana Essandoh IX.
The committee recommended that intensive and effective consultation should be made among the gates to nominate and present a common candidate for approval and installation as the new Omanhen of the Nkusukum Traditional Area
Nomination, electing and installation of Nana Okese Essandoh IX
Following the award and recommendations by the arbitration committee, the Royal family settled on Mr Nicholas Biney as the most legitimate royal to succeed the late chief as Nkusukum Omanhen and the President of the Nkusukum Traditional Council
As a result, all the legitimate procedures as well as all usages necessary to validate his installation as the Omanhen were duly followed and he subsequently became the Omanhen of the Nkusukum Traditional Area with the stool name, Nana Okese Essandoh IX.
Fallout from the committee’s award and further action
Not satisfied with the award and the recommendations by the arbitration Committee, Nana Kofi Enyin and former acting president of the Nkusukum Traditional Council, Nana Kwesi Brebo, proceeded to the High Court in Cape Coast to have the decision quashed by Certiorari, but they failed to succeed.
Again a Judicial Review filed at the Appeals Court eventually fell flat and this was followed by a petition at the Central Regional House of Chiefs on the same subject matter, but the Petitioners again lost.
Appeal at the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi.
The appellants, Nana Kofi Enyin and Nana Yandoh Kese V, further petitioned the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi to review the ruling by the judicial committee of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, which went against them.
However, the appellants/petitioners in a letter to the judicial committee of the National House of Chiefs, dated April14, 2022 discontinued the case.
It reads: “PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Petitioners/Appellants hereby discontinue the appeal against the ruling of the judicial committee of the Central Regional chiefs dated the 8th November 2021”.
National House of Chiefs’ decision
Following the notice of discontinuance as filed by the appellants, the five member committee chaired by Osaagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, struck out the appeal as withdrawn.
Other members of the committee are, Barima Sarfo Tweneboah Kodua, Naa Dawda Yamiya Tooka II, Daasebre AkuamoahAgyapong II and Sagnari Naa Yakubu Abdulai.
Cost of GH₵5,000.00 was awarded against the petitioners.
