House of Chiefs disowns Abor Yamoah
National House of Chiefs has deleted the name of Nana Abor Yamoah II, the disputed chief of Gomoa Fetteh, from its register.
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This effectively means that Nana Abor Yamoah, also known as Edward Acquaye, can no longer lay claim to the Gomoa Fetteh stool, which has been a subject of dispute since 1997.
The decision was contained in a letter dated July 31, 2014 and signed by Nathan Danquah, the Regional Registrar. The letter was under the heading, “Deletion of Name From the Ghana Register of Chiefs”.
“ I refer to Letter no. NH/CR.33/VOL.8/30 dated 25th July , 2014 from the National House of Chiefs, Kumasi, on the above subject and wish to inform you that the National House of Chiefs, at its Research Committee Meeting and full House meeting on the 15th and 16th July, 2014, endorsed for implementation the deletion of the name of Nana Abor Yamoah II from the National Register of Chiefs,” the letter noted .
The letter was addressed to the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council, which has jurisdiction over Gomoa Fetteh
Ruling by Winneba High Court
The decision by the National House of Chiefs follows a ruling by a Winneba High Court, presided over by Justice Adjei Wilson, instructing the National House of Chiefs to strike out the name of Nana Abor Yamoah from its register, since he was not properly enstooled as chief.
“I also direct that within 28 days from the date of this ruling, the National House of Chiefs sets down a schedule for the determination of the entry of the Name of Nana Abor Yamoah II in the Register of the National House Chiefs”, the judge ordered in his ruling.
The Winneba High Court based its decision on the fact that Nana Abor Yamoah, popularly known in his private life as Edward Acquaye, was not properly gazetted as a chief and that his name was fraudulently entered into the Register of the National of House of Chiefs. The ruling was dated 10th June, 2014.
Background to dispute
The Gomoa Fetteh chieftaincy dispute dates back to 22nd of August ,1997 when the Gomoa Akyeapim Traditional Council destooled the then chief, Nana Abor Awusie XIX, on grounds that he was an ex-convict and visually impaired .
While an appeal was pending, Mr Edward Aquaye, under a stool name Nana Abor Yamoah, suddenly emerged as the new chief of Gomoa Fetteh without going through the necessary customary procedures, which includes swearing the oath of allegiance before the Paramount Chief. Mr Aquaye was aided by the Amakwandoh Family.
Subsequently, Nana Abor Yamoah’s name was fraudulently entered into the National House of Chief Register on Sunday, August 24, 1997, a non-working day in Ghana. Surprisingly, the chief’s name was not in the Traditional Council’s Register, which should have been the first place to have his name.
The Appeal
The Regional House of Chiefs , following an appeal by Nana Abor Awusie, a chief of over 35 years, ruled that the purported enstoolment was unfair and that the matter be sent back to the Traditional Council for a fair hearing , warning that until this was done, the status quo be maintained.