[ 2011-11-29 ]

Nana Opoku Fosu Gyeabuor II, Manwerehene of Techiman

Techiman Manwerehene commends Otumfuo over peace speech
I wish to congratulate Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for
the lovely and peace making comments that he made
about the chieftaincy dispute between Manhyia and
the Techiman Traditional Council in his speech at
the Adekyem Festival in Bechem which appeared in
the Daily Graphic issue on Friday 25th November,
2011.

The forceful seizure of some villages from
Techiman by Manhyia in the past resulted in
breakdown of inter-marriages between Bonos and
Ashantis, intra-marriages between rival factions
and sent a lot of people to their graves because
of clashes between rival chiefs either claiming
allegiance to Manhyia or Techiman Traditional
Council. This problem led to the separation of
Bono chiefs from the Asanteman Council which was
spearheaded by Nana Akumfi Ameyaw III of Techiman
and Nana Agyeman Badu I of Dormaa Ahenkro which
finally brought about the creation of the Brong
Ahafo Region in 1959.

This case has been handled in a lot of law courts,
started from the Asante Chief Commissioner’s
court, to the King’s Privy Council in London and
a number of our current courts. The astonishing
aspect about this case is that Manhyia has always
been winning this litigation but the situation has
persisted till date, the reason being that the
stools in these villages are either children of
the Ohene Ameyaw stool of Techiman or direct
relatives of the Krontire stool of Techiman or
other divisional chiefs in Techiman. It would
therefore be very difficult to use a court order
to send these indigenous Techiman citizens to
Manhyia because it is socially, culturally and
practically impossible.

Normally in these villages people who feel they
have been denied their right to these stools would
team up with few family supporters and go to
Manhyia to swear to Otumfuo as Chiefs of these
villages. The counter claims of these stools by
rival chiefs loyal to Manhyia and Techiman
Traditional Council, have resulted in several
intra-lineage clashes which had normally forced
the Manhyia loyal claimants-chiefs to take up
residence in Kumasi because of lack of support in
their villages.

From the foregoing, it is very clear that
Politics, Government or Law Courts cannot solve
this problem except the people themselves led by
their leaders Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Oseadeeyo
Akumfi IV. In the midst of that situation,
Politicians tend to meddle, take sides or
seemingly foment troubles between Otumfuo and
Techimanhene. Therefore if Otumfuo has promised
amicable settlement of this case, it is highly
commendable because it will bring to an end the
fractious relationship between Manhyia and the
Techiman Traditional Council and bring peace to
these sub villages of Techiman. The peaceful
resolution of this case is also important because
real development cannot happen in an environment
where there is no peaceful co-existence, tolerance
and unconditional forgiveness of past actions.

I therefore congratulate Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on
his good pronouncements about the need to bring
about amicable resolutions of these contentious
issues between Manhyia and the Techiman
Traditional Council. It will be another great
achievement in a series of initiatives that this
great King has put in place since his ascension to
the throne. May God grant him long life and wisdom
to help solve most of the controversial cases in
Ghana.

Otumfuo Ayekooo! King Solomon Ayekooo!

Source - Nana Opoku Fosu Gyeabuor II

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