The Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Area (ENTC) and President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC), Awulae AmihereKpanyile III, is in hot water following destoolment charges filed against him at the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC).
The petition was filed by the Paramount Queen Mother of Eastern Nzema, Awulahema Avo Nyimah III and Ebusuapayin, Frank Kwasi, Head of the Royal Family of Eastern Nzema.
The WRHC is yet to constitute a committee to look into the petition, which was filed in June 2024.
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
The petitioners have listed 10 particulars of offences for which they want the chief destooled.
The offences, as listed in the petition, include the fact that the Respondent has failed and/or refused to heed advice by the elders of the stool to marry after 13 years on the stool, contrary to tradition and custom of the people of Eastern Nzema.
The Respondent has also failed to account to the family and the stool of the numerous royalties from statutory bodies operating in the Traditional Area, since he was enstooled as Paramount chief 13 years ago.
The petitioners also alleged that the Respondent dishonestly takes statutory quarterly grants due the first Petitioner(paramount queen mother) from the WRHC, without her authorisation whatsoever and dishonestly refusing to inform her or pay same to her.
Again, the petitioners alleged that the Respondent unilaterally and consistently allocates scholarship resources from the Ghana Gas for the Indigenes of Eastern Nzema to non-Indegines without any consultation with his elders whatsoever.
Travelling outside Ghana without notice to the Queen mother and kingmakers,the Respondentis again being accused of failing to render an account to the elders of the stool family and to take proper custody of the family stool properties entrusted into his care.
The petitioners explained that in the month of October 2023, the Kingmakers in a meeting at the chiefs palace at Atuabo and in the presence of the Respondent laid the charges herein before him (Respondent), who promised to change for the better, but had rather changed for the worse.
Also in the month of April 2024, three days were fixed at the request of Respondent to go into the matters stated herein, but though the kingmakers and elders of the stool both from far and near gathered at the chiefs palace over the matter.
The Respondent in utter disrespect refused to show up leading to the necessary rite and custom being performed to destool him.
RELIEFS
Meanwhile, the petitioners are seeking a declaration that the Respondent is liable to be destooled and or deposed in accordance with the traditional practices of the people of Eastern Nzema Traditional Area by the kingmakers herein.
They are also seeking for perpetual injunction restraining respondent from acting, parading and holding himself out in any manner, both in public and in private, in a capacity as the Omanhene of Eastern Nzema.
They are further seeking an order compelling respondent to surrender all stool Regalia in his possession to the kingmakers.
Respondent AmihereKpanyile has confirmed to this reporter that he has been served with the petition.
However, he refused to go into details with this reporter arguing that the matter was before court and yet to be heard.
