Paramount Chief of Juabeng Traditional Area denies his involvement in the Konongo chieftaincy dispute.
Reports reaches this website from Konongo in the Ashanti Region indicate that the Paramount Chief of the Juabeng Traditional Area, Nana Otuo Sirebour has disassociated himself from the contagious chieftaincy dispute that have been raging on at the town since the death of the late chief, Nana Nana Batafo Acheampong Nti II on January 15, 2022.
Nana Otuo Sirebour who also doubles as the Chairman of the Council of State is reportedly reacted to quickly set himself free from any accusations in the Konongo chieftaincy issues.
This followed a petition which the Twafohene of Konongo, Nana Obrane Opuni Frimpong allegedly forwarded to the Judiciary court of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs to seek interpretations on how chieftaincy administration is run to ensure transparency and fairness to citizens.
Twafohene of Konongo, Nana Obrane Opuni Frimpong in his petition noted that since the passing (death) of the late Konongo chief, Nana Batafo Acheampong Nti II in February 15, 2022, the Paramount Chief of the Juabeng Traditional Area, Nana Otuo Sirebour had allegedly engaged the town and some sub-chiefs in an alleged chieftaincy tussle.
According to the petitioner Nana Obrane Opuni Frimpong, Nana Otuo Sirebour was alleged to have pronounced that he hardly recognizes the late deceased chief Nana Batafo Acheampong Nti II who reigned the town for more than 30 years as a chief, and as such, his burial and funeral rites should be organized as an ordinary person.
Twafohene’s petition further continued that Nana Otuo Sirebour alleged to have distooled all the sub-chiefs of Konongo including him (Twafohene) and does not recognize any chief in Konongo.
It was gathered further that Nana Otuo Sirebour allegedly used his influence to enstool one Nana Dr.Awuah Abedimsa II without the involvement of the chiefs and Kingmakers of Konongo.
But based on the contents of the petition to the highest offices in the chieftaincy institution, the respondent Nana Otuo Serebour flatly denied all the allegations levelled against him.
Nana Otuo Sirebour who is the overlord chief of the area has since indicated that there is no iota of truth in the Twafohene’s petition.
That I have not enstooled nor destool any chief of Konongo, but Nana Dr. Awuah Abedimsa ll, who is currently occupying the prestigious stool of Konongo also claims that he is the legitimate chief of Konongo, enstoolled lawfully in line with customary demands.
The dispute has stalled the funeral and burial rites of the deceased chief, Nana Batafo Acheampong Nti II whose body is still in a morgue.
Meanwhile the court is yet to comence the hearing of the case.
But the obviously mindboggling questions people asked through additional interviews on this matter is that what methods or procedures did Nana Dr Awuah Abedimsa II pass through before he was enstoolled as a chief, who are behind his enstoolment and who did he sworn his oath of allegiance to, whilst the Kingmakers, chiefs and elders of Konongo claimed that they have no hands in the enstoolment exercise.
This is because in Asante and for that matter Akan tradition a chief cannot be enstoolled when funeral and burial rites of a deceased chief is not fully and customarily completed.
Stay tuned for further updates.
