Confusion Erupts At Western Regional House Of Chiefs� Elections

Confusion erupted yesterday at the Western Regional House (WRHC) of Chiefs as the House failed to carry out its elections to elect a president, Vice-President and representatives to the National House of Chiefs.

The election, which was to be held in the early morning of the day, was cancelled following concerns raised by some elders and chiefs in the traditional areas of some of the chiefs vying for the positions.

It is not too clear what might have prompted the concerns resulting into the cancellation of the election, but sources say it has to do with the legitimacy of some of the chiefs in the House.

Consequently, officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) led by the Western Regional EC Director, Mr. Stephen Opoku-Mensah, had to leave the premises without announcing their departure.

Lawyer for the WRHC, Mr. Sam Amoah, who confirmed the cancellation of the elections to journalists, said two separate injunctions have been placed on the elections by some aggrieved factions.

“There is an injunction from one Ebusuapanyin Egya Ackah seeking to prevent the Paramount Chief of Bamiakor from contesting in the elections”, he said.

“Aside that, another injunction from some chiefs in the Nzema Area have also been placed on the elections, claiming that the name “Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli” which currently, happens to be the stool name of the paramount chief of Eastern Nzema, has been fraudulently used”, he said.

“In that same injunction, the plaintiff is seeking to prevent the President of the House from presiding over any meeting or election that would seek to elect Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli to any position of the House”, he added.

The presidency of the House was to be contested between the Acting President of the House, Nana Kwesi Agyemang IX who is also the Paramount Chief of Lower Discove and Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso.

Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III and Paramount Chief of Sefwi Chirano, Okogyeman Kwaku Gyamprah III, also were to run for the vice president position.

Nine others were also contesting to be elected as representatives to the National House of Chiefs.