The Tufohene of Senya-Beraku Traditional Area, Neenye Kow Nkensen II, has advised the District Chief Executive for Awutu/Senya, Mr Sampson Abbey Armah to refrain from meddling in chieftaincy affairs in the area.
He appealed to the Government to advise the DCE said, especially not meddle in issues connected with the traditional norms, laws and regulations of the area.
According to Neenye Nkensen, Mr Armah had declared his full support openly for a group of the traditional area who had expressed their intention to organise this year�s Ak�masi Afashye festival of the people without the approval of the Senya-Beraku Traditional Council.
The Tufohene said the DCE should not do anything, which would cause confusion among the people and eventually derail the collective efforts initiated by the traditional council and opinion leaders in the area to promote peace and development.
Neenye Nkensen was briefing members of Asafo companies and heads in-charge of the various shrines in the area of the outcome of their meeting with the District Chief Executive at the Senya Urban Council Hall.
He explained that recently the Awutu/Senya DCE together with other members of the Awutu/Senya District Security Council (DISEC) organised a workshop for chiefs in the area to address issues, which the District Assembly thought could retard the peace and progress of the various traditional set-ups.
The Tufohene said at the end of the workshop it was agreed by divisional, sub-chiefs and other opinion leaders from Senya Traditional Area that as custom demanded the annual Akomasi Festival should be planned and organised by the Traditional Council, the principal custodian of the traditional norms, laws and regulations governing the people.
The Tufohene expressed utter dismay that a few days after the workshop, the DCE called another meeting of chiefs, opinion leaders and some youth leaders in Senya town at which he allegedly declared his full backing for a group of youth in the town, who were desirous to organise this year�s Akomasi Afashye festival that comes off next month.
He said when challenged by the Acting President of Senya Traditional Council, Neenye Kofi Brebo II, the DCE became infuriated and ordered the Acting President to leave the meeting place.
Neenye Nkensen said members of the Traditional Council viewed the DCE�s action as dangerous and a threat to the peace, stability and progress of the traditional area, hence the call on the government to advice him to withdraw his support for the youth.
He said the traditional council needed a government representative, who would bring peace and unity among the people and not the one who would disintegrate them.
The Tufohene said the Traditional Council was fully aware that it could not single-handedly plan and organize the annual Akomasi festival without the active involvement of the youth.
He said the youth in the various clans constituted the traditional set up who should be afforded the opportunity to properly under-study the traditional leaders and to conserve the rich traditions and customs bequeath to them by their ancestors.
Neenye Nkensen said festivals like the annual Akomasi inherited by the Senya people were usually preceded by certain rituals and purifications, which were normally performed by the chiefs before the festival and not the youth who were expected to learn from the traditional leaders.
He said that failure to heed these laid down principles usually bred chaos and untold misfortunes such as the one which happened to them on December 27, 2011, in which 27 youth lost their lives and another 27 sustained various degrees of injuries when a water tanker virtually run over 200 youngsters during a crowded street jam at Senya town.
He said after consulting the various shrines in the area it came to light that the disaster was the results of the wrongs the people had committed against their gods, adding that as a result the Traditional Council had initiated measures to prevent the occurrence of such undesirable events in the future.
It would be recalled that the Senya Beraku street jam disaster, which occurred two years ago, virtually brought the entire nation into a state of sadness and grief for days.
The traumatic event attracted sharp attention of all political parties and their flag-bearers including the late President Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta-Mills who were then busily preparing for the 2012 general elections.
They mourned with the chiefs and people of Senya-Beraku Traditional Area and contributed both in cash and in kind to support the bereaved families.
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