Nene Nagai Kassa VIII confirmed rightful occupant of Nagai Kassa Stool
The Judicial Committee of the Shai Traditional Council has declared Nene Nagai Kassa VIII known in private life as Mr Michael Afedi Gizo, as the rightful occupant of the Nagai Kassa Stool of Agomeda in the Shai Traditional Area.
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This follows a protracted chieftaincy dispute between Mr Gizo and Warrant Officer (WO1) Joseph Kofi Addai over which of them is the rightful occupant of the stool.
The three-member committee, chaired by Nene Padi Narh Wayo I, the Lekpeje Yiti Mantse of the Shai Division, in a majority vote on October 16, 2014, ruled that Nene Kassa was the substantive divisional chief of Agomeda and its environs.
Other members of the committee were Nene Akuh Djagbletey and Manklalo Okle Tei I.
Background
According to the facts of the case, the Nagai Kassa (Adum Kofi) Stool in the Shai Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region had a divisional status and rotates among the Lekpeje, Hiomeh and Hiowe divisions, each of which has its own kingmakers.
Following the death of Nagai Kassa VII on December 25, 2005, the stool became vacant and the Mla Hiomeh Royal Family thought it wise to elect a suitable person to occupy the stool.
As a result, a three-member committee, headed by Nene Tei Kwesi Okukrubour Agyeman IV, was set up to elect a substantive chief.
Selection process
Two families (Akumienu and Katamanso) were expected to elect a candidate each for vetting and confirmation as chief, following which the Akumienu House selected Mr Gizo, while the Katamanso House presented WO1 Addai.
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During the vetting, it was discovered that WO1 Addai had no lineage to the Nagai Kassa Stool, as it was his grandmother who had married Otsiame Tetteh of the Katamanso House.
It was further discovered by the committee that WO1 Addai’s mother, Ms Dede Tetteh, had gone to live with her grandmother, together with her two children, Yaw Ahinkorah and Joseph Kofi Addai, now WO1 Ahinkorah and WO1 Addai respectively.
“It was also exposed that the biological father of WO1 Addai was Mr Francis Kwesi Addai, who hailed from Mamponteng in the Ashanti Region, and hence had no blood relation whatsoever with the stool at stake to qualify him for consideration to occupy the stool in dispute,” the committee said.
Mr Gizo was subsequently vetted and accepted as a true royal hailing from the Mla Hiomeh Royal Family and was, accordingly installed by the kingmakers of the division under the leadership of Manklalo Djagma Okpotesa III.
Dispute
Subsequently, a dispute arose between Mr Gizo and WO1 Addai as to who was the rightful occupant of the stool, and to stop WO1 Addai from styling himself as a chief, Mr Gizo initiated an action before the traditional council, in accordance with chieftaincy regulations.
Ruling
In its ruling, the judicial committee stated emphatically that “the plaintiff (Mr Gizo) was able to defend his case to justify his nomination and subsequent installation by the kingmakers of the division”.
It also indicated that WO1 Addai was not installed properly as a chief since the only people to do so were the Manklalo, the Numerse Mantse, the Djasetse, the stool father and the family head who nominated the candidate.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at Agomeda after a thanksgiving service last Sunday, the Secretary to the Mla Hiomeh Divisional Council, Mr C.K. Nyemi-Tei, said the ruling had brought a lot of happiness and excitement to residents of Agomeda and its environs.