It is exciting reading today’s front page story about peace been finally restored at the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC).This follows the intervention by the Divisional chief of Princess Town, Nana Akwanzi Abraba IV, who is known in private life as Eunice Buah, also a member of the Council of State and a successful business woman.
In the story, it is reported that Nana Akwanzi Abraba has been able to broker peace amongst the warring chiefs by convincing them to drop a pending suit before the Sekondi High court, seeking to restrain the elected president from performing his duties.
The chiefs appear to have heeded to the call of their own daughter (Nana Akwanzi Abraba) and decided to withdraw every suit pending before the courts. This is a positive sign that they have indeed given peace a chance.
The chiefs at the reconciliatory meeting, at the behest of Nana Kwanzi Abraba, agreed amongst themselves that Tetretteh Okuamoah Sekyim, Omanhene of Wassa Akropong and Awulae Angamatuo Gyan, Omanhene of Gwira Traditional Area will both assume office as president and Vice president of the House respectively, until November 2024 when new elections will be held.
Again, Kwesi Agyemang IX, Omanhene of Lower Dixcove, Kow Entsie III, Omanhene of Mpohor Traditional Area and Obrempong Hima Dekyi, Omanhene of Upper Dixcove will join the President and the Vice president as the region’s representatives to the National House of Chiefs (NHC).
For us at The Chronicle, we are gladdened by the move by Nana Akwanzi Abraba to, at long last, broker peace amongst the warring chiefs. This is because there has never been peace since the disputed election of October 6, 2020 that brought into office the current leaders.
Suits after suits over the disputed election have rocked the House, making it impossible for them to meet, sit and discuss important chieftaincy issues, including sitting and hearing petitions coming from other traditional areas.
Apart from this obvious setback, the House has also not been unable to set up committees such as Judicial, Research and Standing, as well as failure to send representation to the NHC and nomination onto the Peace Council.
All these have happened because of the dispute over the election held over three years ago.
The Chronicle is aware that there were attempts made by both the Western Regional Minister, Kobina Okyere Darko-Mensah and the former chieftaincy Minister, Ebenezer Kojo Kum to resolve the issue, but were unsuccessful.
However, for Nana Akwanzi Abraba IV, Divisional Chief of Princess Town in the Ahanta Municipality, to finally broker peace amongst the chiefs is good news. We congratulate her for the splendid role she has played in bringing the three year long dispute to an end.
As a chief herself, The Chronicle has every reason to believe that she understands and knows the negative impact that litigation has on the development agenda of a traditional area.
This is the reason why we believe she decided to use her resources, time and energy to broker lasting peace. We salute her for the yeoman’s job she had done and posterity will never forget her.
The Chronicle is equally grateful to the chiefs for accepting the intervention made by Nana Araba and resolving to smoke the peace pipe.
As we wait to read report on the House first meeting after the peace talk, The Chronicle can only hope the meeting will be fully attended by all members to send a clear signal to the outside world that peace has indeed returned to the House.
