The family of Nii Ahuma Kojo has appealed to President Akufo-Addo, the Chieftaincy Minister, Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, and the various security agencies to have an interest in matters ongoing in Jamestown, Ngleshie Alata.
The family has raised concerns over the legitimacy of Wetse Kojo II, originally known as Prince Asharku Bruce Quaye.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, August 29, 2024, the family indicated that Wetse Kojo II is not a royal, nor does he come from the two royal gates where the chief of Jamestown, Ngleshie Alata, is considered.
The family members clad in red backed by the Asafoatemei said the recent gazette given to Prince Asharku Bruce for the Ngleshie Jamestown paramountcy is a clear case of fraudulent and corrupt practices by the National House of Chiefs.
It was the case of the family that the paramountcy has two royal families, which are the ruling houses, and the occupancy of the throne rotates between Ajumako Dwurampong and Adanse ruling gates.
The Nii Ahuma Kojo family said the Ajumako Dwurampong family has had their turn after the demise of Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, who reigned for 39 years from 1978 to 2017.
The family indicated that per the rule of natural justice and the customary laws applicable to the families, the Adanse ruling gate nominated, selected, and installed Mr. Henry Nunoo Koppe as Oblempong Nii Ahuma Kojo III after swearing the oath of allegiance without any protest from within or otherwise from the entire royal family.
It added that the processes were peaceful with his installation done on October 29, 2018.
The family alleged that Prince Bruce Quaye does not come from any of the royal families, and his own family members have dissociated themselves from the ongoing chieftaincy dispute in the paramountcy but rather hail from Anumansa, Kweikuma Tsonshie.
They further told journalists that the chieftaincy declaration forms of Oblempong Nii Ahuma Kojo III have been forwarded to the to the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs Office three times, but the forms were rejected on three occasions because the office preferred a candidate.
It is the argument of the family that when the forms of Mr. Bruce Quaye were also sent to the House Chiefs, Nii Oblempong Kojo III petitioned it, raising concerns about pending cases before the Accra High Court and Dodowa.
The family’s secretary, Reverend Doodo, who read the press statement, said the Dodowa case Suit No. GARHC/P5/2020 at the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs barred Mr. Bruce Quaye from holding himself as the paramount chief in the area.
‘’ Prince Asharku Bruce Quaye’s enstoolment as Ngleshie Alata Mantse was not complete. Mr. Henry Nunoo Koppoe, however, went through all the necessary customary rites at Ajumako Dawurampong, the Ngleshie Alata Palace, and Weija and has been enstooled as Oblempong Ahuma Kojo III, Paramount Chief of Ngleshie Alata, Jamestown. The customary rites were performed by the Nii Okpe family, who had been adjudged by the August 6, 1985, judgement of Justice Ampiah J.A. as the legitimate kingmakers of Ngleshie Alata, Jamestown, by Nii Tettey Okpe II as Acting Dzaasetse.
The family also warned companies operating on the lands in the area not to engage with Nii Bruce or pay any money to him since they would be doing so at their own risk.
‘’We are also aware that some people are making frantic efforts to take compensation from the government in respect of properties compulsorily acquired from Ngleshie Alata Stool, and we assure all and sundry that every effort will be made to resist such ill intended attempts.’’
Nii Ahuma Kojo Solomon, Ahuma Kojo Family Head, who translated the statement from English to Ga, alleged that there were unseen political hands interfering with the institution of chieftaincy while adding there were other institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, which he alleged is giving support and protection to the other faction.
He declared that a gazette can never be used as a tool or subterfuge to court state support to subvert the will, the traditions, customs, practice, and usage of the people of Ngleshie Alata Jamestown.
‘’A person must be customary chief before being registered or gazetted to be a statutory chief and not vice versa.’’
Taking his turn, Nii Oblempong Kojo III said that gazette notices and other official publications are not conclusive proof of the matters therein contained and are only prima facie proof of facts notified and might be rebutted by any other evidence.
He said the family is therefore sending a warning out there that it cannot be intimidated and that they will stand and resist the oppressor’s rule.
He added that the family still has faith in the judiciary, calling on it as the last resort and associated with the dictum of Lord Hewart: ‘’Justice must not only be done but seen to be done’’.
‘’We call on President Akufo-Addo, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Minister of Chieftancy and Religious Affairs, Honourable Stephen Asamoah Boateng, to intervene in the current situation at Ngleshie Alata James Town to ensure that justice is done and a peaceful and lasting solution is achieved.’’
He stressed that although Mr. Bruce Quaye had been gazetted, he has not undergone any customary rites, and he is now going around asking to be taken through the customary rites.
‘’I am appealing to all Ngleshie indigenous people to bury their differences and resist any attempt to impose Mr. Bruce as their chief. We will not be intimidated; we will not allow anyone to destroy our tradition and impose an imposter on us as our chief. Let’s unite and ensure that the individual who is not a royal is parading himself as a chief. He has been gazetted; however, he has not been issued with the certified true copy of an extract from the National Registrar of Chiefs due to the court processes served on the Chief Registrar.’’
I want to ask Prince whether he has undergone any customary rites. Has he sworn any oath of allegiance? I want him to be asked whether he has performed any customary rites since the death of the Ngleshie chief. Was he the one who received the oath of allegiance that was taken from the deceased chief? I was the one who received the oath, and I was the one who went through the customary rites as the Ngleshie Alata Mantse.’’
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana