Security Failed Tuobodom

The National Security Advisor, Brigadier-General (Rtd) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, and government were utterly unaware about what transpired between the Techimanhene, Nana Ameyaw Akumfi and the Omanhene of Tuobodom, Nana Baffour Asare, about 11 days ago. According to the National Security capo, his outfit and government were ignorant about eh security lapses in the unfortunate face-off between the two chiefs because they were misinformed by the security detail in charge of the region. Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah, who led a powerful government delegation to the Manhyia Palace on Tuesday to broker peace with the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, told a number of radio stations in Kumasi on Wednesday that his outfit would have dealt decisively with the situation had it gotten the right information. He disclosed he only had the privilege of getting the correct picture after the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom took time off his busy schedule to brief the delegation on what actually occurred at Techiman about 10 days ago. Having been briefed about the situation on the ground, the National Security Advisor gave the assurance that his outfit would not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with anybody found culpable in the unfortunate incident recorded at Techiman where the Tuobodom chief was abducted, stripped naked and beaten. �Nobody is above the law, so now that we have gotten the clearer picture of the situation we are confronted with, my outfit will swiftly move into action and deal drastically with any culpable person in the regrettable incident under review,� Gen. Nunoo-Mensah sternly warned. Touching on the visit to the Manhyia Palace, the National Security Advisor said the visit was fruitful because their discussions with the Otumfuor achieved the desired objective. The country witnessed the escalation of tensions, especially in the Ashanti and Brought Ahafo regions in the last couple of days when Otumfuo, during a meeting of the Asanteman Council on Monday at the Manhyia Palace, in an unusually angry mood, asked President Mills to choose between him and the Techimanhene. Otumfuor, who appeared exceedingly irritated, threatened at the said meeting, which was attended by his over 56 paramount chiefs, that he would order the kidnapping of the Techimanhene if government failed to bring him to order. The Asantehene also asked the government at the tension-packed meeting to remove from office, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye-Maafo and the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Seth Oteng, saying, he had lost confidence and faith in the couple. King Solomon, as he is affectionately called, made these angry remarks when he officially reacted to the kidnapping and maltreatment of the Tuobodomhene at the Techimanhene�s palace. Nana Ameyaw Akumfi took the laws of the country into his own hands about 11 days ago when he ordered his �machomen� to kidnap the Tuobodomhene and bring him to his palace at Techiman where he was brutalized to the extent of stripping him naked. The Tuobodomhene , who pays homage to the Golden Stool, was in court at Wenchi when the Techimanhene�s thugs kidnapped him into a car and took him to the Techiman palace for the series of abuses to be meted out on him. Characteristic of a chief who was enjoying the sound backing of the government in power, the security authorities, in spite of this huge disregard for law, failed to bring the Techimanhene to stool. Instead, the security authorities arrested some guys believed to be loyalists of the Tuobodomhene, who is currently standing trial at the Sunyani High Court for allegedly conspiring to assassinate the Techimanhene about two years. Sensing danger at the outbursts of the Ashanti King, President Mills sent a high-powered delegation to confer with Otumfuo at the Manhyia Palace and broker peace. The delegation, which included Dr Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy, Dr Christiana Amoako-Nuamah, a Presidential Advisor and John Asiedu Nketia, NDC general secretary, was expected to meet the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and the Techimanhene in separate meetings, all geared towards finding a lasting solution to the impasse and the degenerating security situation in the country.