Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – The Osu Kinkawe Dzaase (Kingmakers) have appealed to President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to caution his appointees to refrain from interfering in the chieftaincy matters of the Osu Traditional Area.
This, they said would afford the accredited Kingmakers the freedom to undertake the proper customary process to enstool Mantse for the people of Osu.
Reading a statement on behalf of the Osu Kinkawe Dzaase by Mr Benjamin Adukweifio Quaye, Head of Adukpono at a news conference on Thursday at the Osu Palace said: “Today, the Osu Stool including; the Osu Kinkawe Dzaase, Osu Ashante Dzaase, Osu Alata Dzaase and Osu Anorhor Dzaase wants to use this medium to condemn alleged plans by groups of people and their support base of operation in Adjuate, led by Nii Ashong Omaboe (Head of Family, Adjuate) and Nii Nortey Adumuah IV (Osiahene, Osu Kinkawe) in a bid to re-write the history of the Osu Traditional Area.
“First of all, this is an unfortunate development occurring at a time attention is focused entirely on preparations towards the funeral and burial of the late Osu Mantse. Again, this development has brought serious misunderstanding, suspicion and agitation in the Osu Traditional Area,” the statement said.
The Osu Kinkawe Dzaase stated that the nomination and selection of candidate to be enstooled and/or installed Osu Mantse had been rotational between the Owuo We Royal Family, Amantra-Osu (Principal Ruling House) and the Dowuona We Royal House, Kinkawe-Osu (Second Ruling House).
“In this case, it is the turn of the Owuo We Royal Family, Amantra-Osu,” the statement said.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, it is being rumoured widely that the said Prof Bernard Nortey Botchway who is going through installations process does not hail from the Owuo We Royal Family, Amantra-Osu, this can be verified. Yet the collaborators are doing everything possible to foist a foreigner as Osu Mantse.”
The statement emphasized: “We wish to make it categorically clear according to custom that the next Osu Mantse should be nominated by the Head of Family in consultation with the Council of Elders and presented to the accredited Osu Kinkawe Dzaase, upon an official request by the Osu Kinkawe Dzaase.
“In this particular instance, Nii Saban Atsen VII and his Dzaase as of right is the authority mandated to undertake this customary assignment and no one else. For purposes of emphasis, clarity and avoidance of doubt, none of the Dzaase houses namely; Teinor We, Odartey Sro We, Adukpono and Adjuate We could in isolation and without the concern and concurrence of the other houses constitute itself into an Electoral College and unilaterally enstool an Osu Mantse.
“Again, Osu has only one legitimate Kinkawe Dzaase clothed with the mandate and authority to enstool Mantse of Osu. The traditional area does not, and has never operated parallel Dzaase.
“The fact is, Osu will never run parallel Dzaase to install competing chiefs to the detriment of peace and security, which the traditional area has enjoyed during the last 14 years. It would therefore be illegal for Nii Nortey Adumuah IV to arrogate to himself unconstitutional powers and in the extreme enstool an Osu Mantse.”
The statement said against the background of imminent dire consequences and destabilizing effect of such an action on the peace and security of the Osu Traditional Area, the accredited Osu Kinkawe Dzaase, deemed it fit to draw the attention of the authorities and the public to the bear facts and the unfortunate development.
“We want to re-echo that, in the annals of Osu history, an Osiahene has never been a lead figure or champion any crusade in connection with processes towards the installation of Mantse for the good people of the Osu Traditional Area.
“The established accredited Osu Kinkawe Dzaase Houses, including; Odartey Sro We, Adukpono, Teinor We and Adjuate headed by the Dzaasetse, in his case Nii Saban Atsen VII are responsible for the installation of Osu Mantse.
The statement said the Osu Kinkawe Dzaase led by Nii Saban Atsen VII has directed a request at the ruling house in waiting and to the accredited Head of Family and Council of Elders to present a candidate to be enstooled Osu Mantse to occupy the vacant Osu Stool.
The Osu Kinkawe Dzaase assured all stakeholders that it remained committed to peace and development in the traditional area.
GNA