Wassa chiefs, elders demand reinstatement of Odeneho Kukroko II

Chiefs, elders and hundreds of residents of Tarkwa in the Western Region yesterday hit the principal streets of the mineral mining town to demand the reinstatement of Odeneho Akrofa Krukoko II as the paramount chief of Wassa Fiase.

Contempt conviction

Odeneho Akrofa Kukroko II was convicted in 2002 by the Sekondi High Court for contempt and subsequently destooled following his conviction.

Odeneho, after serving the jail term, appealed against the contempt charge, and the Appeals Court quashed his conviction in July 2003.

The Judicial Committee of the Western Regional House of Chiefs on August 19, 2015, ruled in favour of Odeneho Akrofa Krukoko II, stating that there was no valid destoolment of Odeneho, meaning the paramount chief was not destooled in April 2002.

The protesters, clad in red apparel, marched through every corner of the streets of Tarkwa to drum home their demands, warning that they would advise themselves if their paramount chief was not reinstated before the end of 2020.

The angry chiefs and residents also appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene in the sensitive matter in order to restore peace in the area “before the unthinkable happens”.

Statement

In a statement after the massive demonstration yesterday, queen mother of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, Nana Abena Kunadjoa II, prevailed upon President Akufo-Addo to provide the traditional council adequate security to enable Odeneho Akrofa Krukoko II to be reinstated as the Omanhene of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council.

She argued that Odeneho Akrofa Krukoko II had been cleared by both the Regional and National House of Chiefs to be reinstated to continue his kingship as the Omanhene after his conviction in 2002 by the Sekondi High Court for contempt.

Nana Abena Kunadjoa II called for an immediate audit of all transactions on the finances of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council.

The Public Relations Officer of Wassa Fiase Traditional Council, Mr Fiifi Ampong, in an interview, also called on President Akufo-Addo to assist the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council to reinstate Odeneho Akrofa Krukoko II as the paramount chief of the traditional council.

Nana Kofi Bosompem of Benso also addressing the press, accused one Solomon Ntsiakwa, popularly known as Kwesi Appiah, and the registrar of hijacking the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council and destabilising the peace in the area.