At least three people have reportedly sustained gunshot injuries following violent clashes between the police and some followers of the Asamankese Chief over the burial of six royals.
Some police vehicles were damaged.
The incident, happened Sunday at Asamankese in the Eastern Region
According to reports, tension had been brewing in the community since last week after Akua Korang Akwamu Abrade Royal Family announced to perform burial and funeral rites of some deceased royals, which began on Thursday and were expected to end on Wednesday.
The embattled Chief of Asamankese, Osabarima Adu Darko, is said to have attempted to injunct the funeral rite but the Bailiff was unable to serve the defendant.
Osabarima Adu Darko is opposing the interment of the deceased at the royal cemetery by his rivals -Osabarima Pobi Asomani.
Police sources indicate that on Sunday, the Eastern South Police Command received intelligence that a group of suspected land guards had illegally assembled and were plotting an attack related to the dispute.
An attempt by the police to intervene and prevent the planned violence, however, escalated into chaos, resulting in the destruction of police vehicles and gunfire that left three people injured.
Reinforcement teams were quickly deployed to restore calm in the area.
Police say investigations are ongoing into the incident.
The royals have however been buried midnight.
Royal Akua Korang Akwamu Abrade Family of Asamankese in the Eastern Region about a month ago urged government to immediately resume efforts to bring finality to the long-standing chieftaincy dispute in the area.
At a press conference held on Monday at the family’s ancestral home, Akwamu Fie in Asamankese-Beposo, the family expressed frustration that, despite securing judgments from competent judicial and traditional bodies—including the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs Judicial Committee, the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council Judicial Committee, and the High Court in Koforidua—none of the rulings have been enforced.
The family recalled that a petition to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs under the previous government resulted in dialogue sessions, but those interventions have since stalled.
A fresh petition submitted earlier this year to the current government is yet to receive any response.
“In the course of our engagement with government and its institutions, we have realized that our plight is not being given the needed attention simply because we are peaceful people,” the family stated.
According to Osabarima Kentinka Pobi Asomaning, who insists to be the legitimate chief of Asamankese, the Royal Akua Korang lineage remains the undisputed custodian of Asamankese lands, with only a one-third arrangement with the Overlord of Akyem Abuakwa.
He said no person outside the family has the right to ascend the Asamankese Divisional Stool.
He alleged that his rival, Osabarima Adu Darko II, is not a member of the lineage and is relying on what he described as a fraudulent gazette. The family insists that the duly installed chief of Asamankese is Osabarima Kentinka Pobi Asomaning, in line with the Chieftaincy Act.
The family further warned against any attempts to alter inheritance procedures, referencing the historical creation of the Asamankese Division through a colonial Executive Instrument in the 1930s and 1940s for the Akua Korang Abrade Family.
“Any machination or arm-twisting of the inheritance procedure to the Asamankese Divisional Stool will be resisted by the descendants and members of the Royal Akua Korang Akwamu Abrade Family,” they cautioned.
The family is demanding the removal of Osabarima Adu Darko II from the palace as directed by the courts, stressing that such an action is necessary before any meaningful dialogue can take place.
The family stressed the need for government and state institutions to enforce existing decisions by the rightful adjudicating bodies in order to safeguard peace and stability in Asamankese.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
