Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka
By Adofo Rockson
Following the events of the completely unprofessional, if not absolutely absurd and criminal police-cum-military brutalities inflicted on the innocent citizens of, and visiting sympathising mourners to, Kumawu-Bodomase, on the laying in state, burial and celebration of the final funeral rites of the late Kumawu Akyempemhene Nana Okyere Krapa II, TV3 Network Limited Ghana goofed miserably by seeking the views of one Mr Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka as an expert on chieftaincy affairs.
From some of his answers given to some questions, I am sorry to say he is nowhere near the level where he should be accorded the red carpet as a chieftaincy expert on Ashanti Chieftaincy affairs let alone, that of entire Ghana. He had better go back to do a bit more research to refresh his memory or he needs a refresher course from more knowledgeable persons.
He claims the Ashanti has its traditional way of settling chieftaincy disputes. Resolving such misunderstandings starts from the lower traditional courts (probably at the Odikro level) to the Divisional court which is presided over by the paramount chief of the area to end at the Asantehene’s court at Manhyia which he considers to be the Supreme court hence the final arbiter in the dispute.
Let it be known to him that Ghana in her current democratic dispensation where there is no absolute monarchy in the country but somehow a constitutional monarchy even if that is the case, Asantehene’s court is not the final arbiter in chieftaincy disputes. He had better go back to school to study his history again in conjunction with the nation’s constitution and the specially documented chieftaincy laws as enshrined in Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759.
Has he ever heard about the National House of Chiefs? Chieftaincy cases that are unable to be resolved at the regional level for a reason or the other are escalated to the National House of Chiefs. When no satisfactory result is found there, it goes to the Supreme Court of Ghana but not the said Supreme Court of Asantehene as erroneously alleged by Mr Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka without any supporting facts.
The Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759 allows for the establishment of Judicial Committees to resolve chieftaincy disputes at Traditional Councils and House of Chiefs level. When the disputes are unable to be resolved within the set stages of the traditional system as per the Chieftaincy Act, they end up at the Supreme Court of Ghana.
The following web link will help educate both Mr Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka and TV3 or they had better get a copy of the Chieftaincy Act itself.
http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/using-the-chieftaincy-act-to-resolve-nagging-issues/
I do not have much time to spend educating both TV3 and Mr Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka but I totally disagree with him saying Asantehene’s Court is supreme in settling all chieftaincy disputes in the Ashanti region hence he sees no reason why certain people are still continuing with the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute as it has finally been settled by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his Asanteman Supreme Court.
Check the underlying YouTube video link to see what Mr Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka is saying to assess his level of chieftaincy expertise which is far below recognition and acceptability if interpreted in terms of the prevailing regulatory Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa5TdDxUXZ8
On YouTube, his said views are under the title, “Chieftaincy expert discusses the impact and effect of Bodomase chieftaincy conflict -20/2/2017 - TV3 NETWORK LIMITED GHANAâ€
Asantehene himself and the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs had been sued by abusing their powers; being collusive and biased during their attempts to arbitrate the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute which has escalated to the sad events that occurred at Kumawu-Bodomase on Thursday, 16 February 2017 on which the view of the alleged chieftaincy expert (Mr Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka) was sought.
How then could Asantehene be the final arbiter in a case where he is himself a defendant? How can a defendant be a judge of his own court or a footballer in a game be the umpire?
Check again the below YouTube link to see how Asantehene Otumfuo Osei II condoned and connived with Asanteman Council and Kumawuhemaa to abuse his powers as the Ceremonial Head of Asanteman but who is erroneously seen by many a coward and historically uninformed person as the Asante Overlord with unlimited powers to do what he wants when he wants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac8wZIPlVu8
I can offer both Mr Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka and TV3 free tutorials on Ashanti chieftaincy dispute resolution with regard to laid down procedure through to the Nation’s Supreme Court.
Asantehene has absolutely no right to needlessly interfere in Kumawu chieftaincy affairs let alone, impose a puppet on us. I have abundant documentary facts and evidence to prove my point beyond all reasonable doubt.
The legal battle to liberate Kumawuman from the collusive enterprises of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asanteman Council, Kumawuhemaa Nana Abenaa Serwaah Amponsah, the alleged Kumawuhene Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua and their accomplices in government or wherever, continues unabated.
Stay tuned for more educative historical facts on the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute and the purposely-arranged unleashing of police-cum-military brutalities on Kumawuhene Barima Tweneboa Kodua V and his sub-chiefs and the citizens and sympathising mourners of Kumawu-Bodomase.
Rockson Adofo
(Written on Monday, 6 March 2017)