Chieftaincy is becoming a major source of conflict in Ghana

The National Security Advisor, Brigadier Nunoo Mensah has told CitiFM that the Chieftaincy institution in Ghana is gradually turning into a major source of conflict and tension in the country and should therefore be modernized to make it more beneficial for the people of Ghana.His comments follows recent controversies and tensions arising from the utterances of two of Ghana’s most promonent chiefs – the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Ga Mantse King Tackie Tawiah III.

The Ga Mantse recently slammed President Mills for refusing to give him the recognitions he deserves because of perceptions that he was enstolled by the erstwhile NPP government, a statement that rekindled the controversy surrounding his legitimacy as the King of the people of Ga Mashie.

The Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu, on Monday, March 15, threatened to cause the arrest of the Techiman chief if government failed to do so.The Techiman chief had allegedly used some macho men to arrest and humiliate the Tuobodom Chief who owes allegiance to the Ashanti golden stool.

The situation has generated a lot of confusion and clashes between some youth of Kumasi and Techiman.On Tuesday, March 14, some Macho men, belonging to a group calling itself Ashanti Freedom fighters besieged the Kejetia lorry station in Kumasi and threatened to prevent passengers from travelling to Techiman because, according to them, the Chief of Techiman had disrespected the Asantehene. One person was severly injured in the process.General Nunoo Mensah believes that Ghana cannot sit aloof as these unfortunate developments rage on.“I am of the view that Chieftancy is becoming a major problem in this country.

From the national security point of view it is a major source of conflict and tension in this country and the earlier we look at the institution and modernize it and make it more useful for our development, the better it will be for all of us.” He told Citi Breakfast Show host Bernard Avle.Meanwhile, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah (retired) says Government is committed to resolving the current impasse and tension between the Asanteman council and the Techiman council of chiefs before it degenerates into a bigger problem.According to him, the Government is fully in charge and will not look unconcerned as tensions rise in the two regions.

Speaking to Citi news Wednesday morning after an emergency meeting with Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu in Manyhia, the security adviser urged all the parties to exercise restraint and be assured that the law will take its course against any individual or group of persons found breaching the law.He said the Government will take a decision on the matter as soon as it meets with the Techiman chief who has been accused for causing the kidnapping of a Tuobodom chief who pays allegiance to the Asantehene.“…It may look like a little problem but if we don’t handle it properly, it can get nasty so the government wants to react to whatever is happening very quickly and assure everybody that the government is in charge and the government wants to make sure that the law takes it cause.

If anybody has offended anybody, the law is there to deal with that person but we appeal to Otumfuor and the Asanteman that peace should reign and no one should do anything to disturb the peace of country and that the government will act as soon as the facts are brought before the president sometime today.”

Source: Citifmonline