Factions in Wassa Fiase chieftaincy disputes clash in Sekondi

Thursday 13th September, 2012

Sekondi (W/R), Sept.13, GNA - Feuding factions in the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area chieftaincy disputes, on Thursday, clashed at the Western Regional House of Chiefs Secretariat in Sekondi.

The supporters of Odeneho Akrufakoko and Nana Kwado Kyerefi engaged each other in a brawl at the forecourt of the secretariat.

The free-for-all fight lasted for over 30 minutes before some chiefs adjudicating the case prevailed upon them to ceasefire.

The Registrar of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Mr. Samuel Yeboah Menkah, confirmed the nasty incident to the Ghana News Agency in Sekondi on Thursday.

He said the Judicial Committee (JC) of the House, comprising the Paramount Chief of Western Nzema Traditional Area, Owulae Annor Adjaye III, the Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema, Owulae Amihere Kpanyinli III and the Paramount Chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Kwesi Agyemang IX, were sitting on a long-standing chieftaincy case in the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area.

He said the plaintiff in the case Odeneho Akrufakoko, also known in private life as George Ampong was supposed to move a motion on Thursday Sept. 13, but failed to turn up.

However, he said, a gentleman introduced himself as the representative of the plaintiff, but the JC asked him to produce a letter of Attorney before proceedings could continue.

The Registrar indicated that after the gentleman failed to produce any documentation, the JC asked him to go back and request for that document before he could represent the plaintiff.

However, this did not go down well with him and he left the room furious amidst insults and this incited the supporters of the plaintiff (Odeneho Akrufakoko), who engaged the rival supporters of Nana Kwado Kyerefi, the defendant, in a free-for-all fight resulting in injuries.

Before the police arrived at the scene, all the rioting supporters had escaped to a nearby bush to avoid arrest.

Mr. Menkah suggested that the Regional Security Council must provide security at the Secretariat any time the JC is sitting on a sensitive case to avert any future incidence.

He said the JC of the Regional House of Chiefs had powers of a court, therefore, the panel members must be protected as it is done in the public court system in the country.

GNA