The indigenes of Essienimpong, in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti region, are up in arms with their Chief, Nana Kwaku Appiah Onwawani, for allegedly encroaching upon their farmlands, measuring more than 80 acres through sand winning.
The complainants, including Nana Ama Acheampomaah III, the Queen mother of Essienimpong, have accused the Agya Appiah Bitters CEO of selling out the said lands to sand winners.
They have petitioned the Tafohene, Nana Agyen Frimpong II, who is the head of Benkumhene Division of the Kumasi Traditional Council, to which the Essienimpong chief belongs, to call him to order.
The petitioners are Messrs John Atta Yeboah, Eric Nketiah, Eric Osei Kwadwo, Akwasi Acheampong, Prince Oppong Boakye, Samuel Akwasi, Isaac Sekyere, Armstrong Yaw Manu, Kwame Safo and Abena Adoma.
They said their farmlands used for the cultivation of cassava, plantain, cocoyam, maize, palm trees and cocoa among others, have been taken over by some strangers at the instance of the Chief for sand winning.
Two companies are said to have been engaged in sand winning on the said farmlands and thus destroying their food crops and plantations to the detriment of their livelihood.
The complainants said upon enquiries from the workers on the land, they were informed that the chief of Essienimpong, through his Agent, one Michael, had authorised the sand winning activities, which were collaborated by the Gyasehene.
According to them, all efforts to stop the sand winners from their activities have been abortive and that anytime they attempt to stop the sand winners the chief causes their arrest.
The Petitioners also indicated that the Queen mother has been frustrated by the chief and not on talking terms for the past three years, because the chief had taken over the Queen mother’s family lands.
Nana Ama Acheampomaah III, Queen mother of Essienimpong confirmed that about five acres of her family had been destroyed in sand winning spearheaded by the Chief.
She said the case travelled to the Manhyia Palace for settlement and they were directed to settle the matter among themselves. However, Nana Kwaku Appiah has refused to settle the case amicably, as directed.
The Queen mother also confirmed that for the past two years the Chief has not talked to her.
As a result, the youth are up in arms against the chief and traditional authority accused of stifling development in the Essienimpong community.
They are angered that no social amenities have been provided by the Chief eleven years after he was sworn in (as at August 26, 2013).
Mr. Prince Oppong, the youth activist who addressed the media, explained that Nana Kwaku Appiah Onwanwani and the Assembly Members of the Community have not helped the community with good Roads, Community Center, Market, potable drinking water and a place of convenience.
He complained that Essienimpong has always been left out whenever there is road construction within the area, in the Ejisu municipality, and pointed out that the Palace project the Chief initiated on his installation has been abandoned and turned into a dumping site.
Mr. Oppong mentioned that open defecation is commonplace all over the community due to lack of decent places of convenience.
Madam Adwoa Adomah, a resident, bemoaned the apathy of the Chief and his elders to fight for basic infrastructural needs of the community.
She disclosed that all the surrounding communities like Achina, Kwaso and Onwe enjoy good road network provided by the former Member of Parliament for the Ejisu constituency, Mr. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, yet the Essienimpong community has been left out.
She appealed to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, to come to their aid, as they are at the mercy of the Chief and the traditional Authority who have not seen the need for a new palace for the community for the past 11 years.
The 61-year-old Industrialist succeeded Nana Kwaku Bio. In 2015, the Chief launched a five year development plan, under which the community was to raise GH¢100,000.00 for the construction of an ultra-modern facility to serve as a social centre.
Nana Kwaku Appiah Onwawani also promised to personally contribute towards development
projects in the community and promised to build a GHc400.000 modern palace for the community, but the aggrieved petitioners say the chief has not redeemed any of the promises and proposed initiatives.
Attempts by the paper to get the Chief to speak to the allegations failed. He has refused to answer calls put through to him on daily basis on his two known cell phones the past three weeks. He would not respond to text messages sent to him either.
