The Intended funeral rites of the late Nkonguasoafoכhene of Kwahu Kotoso in the Kwahu Traditional Area of the Eastern Region, Nana Yaw Achaw, have been put on hold by the Nkawkaw High Court.
The funeral was supposed to take place last Saturday, February 6, 2016.
The court took the decision following a writ filed by Nana Ampoma Gyebi I, Chief of Kotoso, Nana Owusu Okyere, Overall head of Asona clan (Abusuapanin) of Kotoso and Nana Mirekua, Queen mother of Kotoso. The defendants were Ansong Darko, Ama Frimpomaa and Michael Baah all of Kotoso.
In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs said during the lifetime of Nana Achaw, he paid allegiance to Nana Gyebi and his elders and per the customs and tradition of Kotoso, Nana Gyebi (Chief of Kotoso) was mandated to perform the burial and final funeral rites of the deceased.
The defendants failed to follow the laid down tradition and custom of Kotoso by refusing to consult the Chief of Kotoso and his elders and went ahead to set a date for the funeral.
In addition, posters of the deceased and various announcements made by the defendants featured some strange names as chief mourners with some arrogating chieftaincy titles to themselves.
The plaintiffs stated that the said individuals were not known and recognized by the Kwahu Traditional Area as well as the Chief of Kotoso and his elders.
This prompted the plaintiffs to alert Nana Ampadu Daaduam II, Mpraesohene, the overlord of Kotoso who in turn issued a traditional summons on the defendants and ordered them to stop all forms of public announcements of the funeral rites of the deceased.
The defendants however ignored the overlord’s orders and continued with the announcements.
The plaintiffs therefore pleaded with the court to restrain the defendants from performing the funeral rites of the late Nana Achaw since their action could trigger violence in the town.
After carefully listening to the argument of the plaintiffs’ Lawyer, Phidelis Osei-Duah, the court granted their request and put injunction on the funeral.
But the defendants last Friday, February 5, went to the Atibie Government Hospital mortuary and requested the release of the body to them but the mortuary attendant refused.
The defendants were however alleged to have gone ahead and performed the funeral rites without the body.
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