Tension Mounts At Larteh � Over Installation Of New Chief

The chief of Larteh in the Akuapem Traditional Area (ATA) in the Akuapem North District of the Eastern Region, Osabarimah Asiedu Okoo Ababio III, has called on the Police to stop the intended installation of one Nana Atta Kumi, as chief of the town to avert a bloody clash in the area. According to Osabarimah Ababio, who is also the Benkumhene of the Akuapem Traditional council, he has received information that some group of people led by Nana Esi Okoree I, a development queen mother of the area, are about to outdoor a new chief for the area on Sunday, when he (Osabarimah) has not been destooled. He alleged that Nana Okoree I, in recent times, has been bringing gun wielding young men to Larteh, parading them as Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) operatives. The supposed BNI operatives, he continued, went to his palace and claimed to have destooled him and subsequently nominated Nana Atta Kumi, who is to be outdoored on Sunday as the substantive chief for Larteh. Osabarimah explained that, the act of Nana Okoree I and her collaborators was not only illegal but also an affront to the chieftaincy institution and that a development queen mother had no power to destool a chief, even if he has committed traditional offence. He has sworn to deal with Nana Okoree I and collaborators, if they should carry out their purported outdooring of Nana Atta Kumi on Sunday, because he is the only chief recognized by the Akuapem Traditional Council. In a letter sighted by the paper, which is under the headline: �Disturbances at Larteh,� dated August 4, 2014, signed by the Osabarimah Ababio III and copied to the Eastern Regional Minister, Regional Police Commander, Akropong Divisional Police Commander, among others, he warned that he had informed the Asafo group, youth, men and women to stand up against any threat and intimidation by the supposed chief. Osabarimah Ababio III stated in the letter that: �We (my people and I) say emphatically that anytime she (Nana Okoree I) visits Larteh with the so-called BNI operatives we shall handle them with the contempt they deserve�. But Nana Okoree I, who is known in private life as Nana Esi Botsio, has called the bluff of the chief as she insists that the chief had been destooled and would go ahead to outdoor Nana Kumi on Sunday. She denied that the youth, who participated in the Saturday desoolment were BNI operatives. �These are youth of the area who thought the way Osabarimah was steering the affairs of the area was not right�. To her, she has the support of the kingmakers of the area and would ensure that the outdooring ceremony would go on as planned. She accused Osabarimah Ababio III of pocking monies that belong to the people of the area without the consent of the kingmakers and elders of the stool. According to the developmental queen mother, who is affectionately known as Lady Tamara, she had single handedly sponsored the annual Odwira festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of the area for the past 15 years. She regretted that despite her contributions towards the celebrations, contributions of corporate bodies and individuals within and outside the traditional area to support the festival has not been accounted for by the chief. Osabarimah Ababio III was last Saturday destooled by the kingmakers and elders of the Royal Aduana Clan of Larteh Akuapem after he failed to respond to a summon on July 22, 2014 at the Stool House. According to the developmental queen mother, the destooled Omanhene had refused to perform outstanding rites that qualify him to be the Aheneasehene and subsequent Akuapem Benkumhene. To the kingmakers, Osabarimah has further demonstrated gross disrespect to them for not consulting them before he swore an oath of allegiance to the Okuapehene, Osaeadeeyo Addo Dankwa II with its corresponding false documentation.