Former law maker for Talensi Constituency and now Paramount Chief for Tongo Traditional Area, Tongraan Kugbilsong-Nalebegtang, has rubbished a media report that he paid an amount of GHc 500,000 or 5 billion old cedis, a tractor and two houses, before he was crowned the overlord of his traditional area.
Days after his elevation to the throne, a media report emerged that before he was enskinned, Mr. Robert Doameng, as he was known in his private life, gave out the aforementioned amount and items to the Overlord of Nalerigu – the Nayiri, to beat his fellow contenders who could not give that much.
But in a rebuttal, he dismissed these reports, describing it as a calculated attempt to dent his image and an insult the Nayiri who enskinned him as the paramount chief. He further said it was preposterous to think that such huge payments could be made to earn a chieftaincy title, especially in Northern Ghana and wondered if it can happen anywhere in the country or the world.
He, however, admitted though that traditionally a commitment ought to be made and was actually made, but it was only the Nayiri who knew what and how much was paid; emphasizing that: “Even the Nayiri’s wife will not know and does not know how much is paid. It is between me and the Nayiri”.
Speaking to the host of A1 Radio’s Day Break, Azongo Albert, at his Palace at Tongo, where the Bolgatanga-based radio station broadcasts from, last Wednesday, Tongorana revealed that he has filed a writ in court against the reporter and the media house for the publication and pressing charges for false report and defamation.
“I wonder where in the world this amount of money will be paid by an individual for a chieftaincy title. In fact let me tell you that I have filed a writ in court against both the reporter and the media house.
“That report has hurt me so much because it is an insult to me, the paramountcy and also the Nayiri. What is even surprising is that the young man who made this report comes from here and if this is the kind of journalism that he wants to practice then it won’t take him anywhere,” he added.
He used the opportunity to caution journalists to be circumspect in their reportage and make sure they check their facts before reporting. When asked on how he felt in his new position as paramount chief, this was his response: “Chieftaincy is a noble institution compared to being a parliamentarian.
Ghana’s politics like everywhere is tainted with personality attacks. Being a chief is noble because no one can come to my house to insult me. The decision to leave parliament was not difficult for me. We have revered this position over the years so when it came, I was elated to take it”.
On the recent electoral disturbances during the Talensi by-election, the seat he resigned paving way for the by-election, the paramount chief cautioned politicians and political groups to let it be their first and last time to misconduct themselves on his land, as he threatened to invoke the spirits of the land on any group of people who dared carried out similar violence in the area.
“Let this be your first and last. We will not tolerate any violence by any group of people here in Talenteng (Talensi land). You are free to carry out your political activities but we will not accept any drop of blood. We will invoke the spirits of our land if it happens again” he said.
<<Print>>