Find lasting solutions to chieftaincy disputes — Kingmakers told

The Oda Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr F.S. Adikah, and the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akyem Achiase, Mr Richmond Amponsah, have expressed concern about protracted chieftaincy disputes in parts of the Eastern Region, especially in the Akyem Oda area, which they said were undermining peace and stability.

The two expressed the concern at the annual Oda Divisional Police Command get-together at Akyem Oda last Friday.

Chieftaincy disputes

They called on kingmakers and other opinion leaders in the area to find lasting solutions to chieftaincy disagreements in order for peace and unity to prevail in the area to facilitate development.

Mr Adikah singled out Oda Old Town, Akyem Ntronang and Akyem Abodom as flashpoints where chieftaincy matters could change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.

Kidnapping of chiefs

He said there had been instances where criminals had kidnapped chiefs and subjected them to inhuman treatment including slaughtering of rams and smearing of blood on the victims to signify their destoolment, an act he described as illegal and barbaric.

Mr Adikah advised kingmakers to go by the right traditional procedures to install and destool chiefs but not to resort to violence or barbaric acts to destool them.

He said even though the police would not interfere in chieftaincy matters, they would not sit aloof for chiefs to be maltreated or wounded.

Highway robberies

The Divisional Police Commander noted with pride that highway robberies which were rampant on the Oda-Agona Swedru highway had reduced drastically due to night patrols by the police along the route.

He said criminal activities in the entire division had reduced because the police had intensified day and night patrols.

Car snatching

Mr Adikah said five members of a car snatching syndicate, namely Isaac Otabil, Jacob Arhin, Gilbert Ofori Ntsiful, Kwabena Amoako and Adam Asabil were recently apprehended by the Oda police and were standing trial at the court.

He said two vehicles, a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Echo saloon cars, which they stole were currently in the custody of the Oda Police and urged anyone who had lost any such vehicle to come to the Oda Divisional Police command to identify, authenticate and collect them.

Litigations

For his part, the DCE for Achiase, Mr Richmond Amponsah, said chieftaincy litigations were draining the coffers of district assemblies and as such urged kingmakers to refrain from engaging in underhand dealings.

He further urged chiefs to lead exemplary lives in order not to bring their rule into disrepute.

Also in attendance at the function were the new Commanding Officer of the Jungle Warfare School at Akyem Achiase, Lt. Col. Owusu Appah, and the Safohene of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Nana Ofori Attah.