Fantse Chiefs Suspended �For Suing Mfantseman Council In Ashanti

SIX HEADS of Fantse communities in Kumasi, who instituted a legal action against the Mfantseman Council in Ashanti region in protest against alleged interference and undue influence in the selection and installation of a new head of the Mfantseman Council in Ashanti have been suspended. They are Nana Amamo Baidoo (Atonsu), Nana Odziamon II (Anwomaso), Nana Osam Dadzie (Kaase), Nana Boachie Okrodom (Asawase), Nana Baiden (Ayigya) and Nana Akye Kojo (Ahinsan). Their suspension comes two days after they had filed a suit as plaintiffs before a Kumasi Circuit court on April 2, 2014, against Nana Kwaw Akyen (Dakwadwom) and Nana Annan (Ghana Nkabom Abusuapanyin), who also double as Kontihene and Gyasehene respectively, of the Mfantseman Council in Ashanti. The suspension letter dated April 4, 2014, and signed by Nana Kwaw Akyen, Kontihene and acting Head of Mfantseman Council directed that the suspended chiefs should not attend any meeting at all levels until the case is resolved. As a result, queen mothers and elders (Baasonfo) are to take over of the running of the Oman at Adarko level. The order has been communicated to all 20 Fantse communities and groupings in Ashanti region generally and in the Kumasi Metropolis in particular. The suspended chiefs, in a statement of claim, said the death of Nana Akorful Owessie in September 2013 and the Queen mother, Nana Adwoa Kum, a year ago, necessitated the installation of a new chief and queen mother. As a result, two persons, Nana Kwasi Essel and Nana Egyir Aggrey put in their bids for vetting as chief while Nana Amissah Okyi and Osam Penianko also applied for installation as Queen mother subject to vetting and approval. The plaintiffs stated that a 13-member Searching/Vetting Committee was selected from the various Fantse communities for vetting but before the vetting committee could start work the Chief of the Asokore Mampong, allegedly invited the kingmakers for negotiations on March 16, 2014 at his place during which Nana Egyir Aggrey, one of the contestants, was disqualified and ordered that a chief be installed by the Fantse community within three weeks. But the plaintiffs contend that the Asokore Mampong chief, though the overlord of the Fantse community at the Kumasi Traditional Council in his capacity as the Nifahene of Kumasi Traditional Council, is not a member of the kingmakers of the Fantse Community and as such lacks capacity to disqualify any contestant. The court action is premised on their conviction that the defendants are bent on using the authority of Nana Boakye-Ansah Debrah to install a new chief without recourse to the 13-Member Search Committee selected by the Fantse Community and headed by Nana Annan. They are, therefore, seeking a declaration that Nana Asokore Mamponghene is not a member of the kingmakers of the Fantse Community and that all pronouncements he allegedly made in disqualifying Nana Gayer Aggrey are null and void. The suit is also seeking a declaration that the defendants, acting Head of Mfantseman Council in Ashanti and Chairman of 13-Member Vetting Committee, are not the only kingmakers of the Fantse community and should be restrained from ever holding themselves as such. They also want an order of the court compelling the defendants to follow the laid down procedure in installing a new chief and queen mother for the Fantse Community in Kumasi.