I Don't Meddle In  Chieftaincy Issues ...North Tongu DCE Denies Spurious  Allegations Against Him

The District Chief Executive of North Tongu in the Volta Region, Mr Divine Osborn Fenu, has vehemently denied allegations levelled against him at a press conference held by the Akata Clan in Dorfor-Adidome of the North Tongu District of the Volta Region that he interfered in their raging chieftaincy dispute.

According to Mr Fenu, his mandate as a DCE and Chairman of North Tongu District Security Committee (DISEC) is to ensure the peace, unity, security and development of the entire district, made up of six (6) traditional areas. 

He stressed that "Who is or is not eligible to be a chief in any community within the district, is not within my mandate and capacity and I will therefore not interfere in chieftaincy disputes." 

According to the DCE, "I respect our chiefs as custodians of our tradition and values and indeed indispensable development partners. 

"That is the only interest that we have and we intend to continue to pursue this development interest with our cherished chiefs and traditional office leaders," he stated.

 

Mr Fenu was speaking at a short press briefing in Battor to respond to a publication on Thursday, February February 3, 2022 edition of the New Crusading Guide to the effect that he stood accused of interfering in the chieftaincy dispute in the Dorfor-Adidome Akata Clan.

He asked the good people of North Tongu and indeed all concerned, to dismiss the allegations in entirety as false and lacking candour.

Articulating the facts of the case, the DCE narrated that the district security picked intelligence that tension was brewing at Dorfor-Adidome regarding impending funeral rites of a disputed chief of the Akata clan of Dorfor, with the stool name Togbui Saho Saho IV and indeed a planned installation of a successor.

Meanwhile, there is another claimant to the stool in the same community, bearing the same title and alive, allegedly gazetted as well, and whose faction had vowed to prevent the processes planned by the other faction. 

"This narrative certainly has the potential to result in violent clashes. As a result, the district security council (DISEC) invited the parties to a meeting on the 17th of January, 2022. it was subsequently revealed that this dispute had been a subject of litigation at a high court and was referred appropriately to the Volta Regional House of Chiefs," he pointed out.

He pointed out that the Judicial Committee of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs also referred the parties to the nearest traditional council since it was a dispute appropriately suited for that level. 

He indicated that the parties failed to take advantage of that directive. 

In the view of DISEC therefore, the DCE said the planned burial of the late chief and installation of his successor have stayed and the option of resorting to the nearest traditional council on the orders of the regional house of chiefs, explored first.

In the worst-case scenario, he indicated that the other faction was equally cautioned not to unlawfully breach the peace by resorting to violence. 

"At best, they can resort to a court restraining order, because the district security will not compromise the peace. the parties acquiesced to the admonishing of the DISEC.

"It, therefore, came as a surprise to DISEC and everyone who knows the Hon DCE, that he could be accused of taking sides in the disagreements, by one of the factions.

 “I do not know any member of either of the disputing factions. Indeed I met most of one them for the first time at the DISEC meeting. I have no interest in the dispute.

"My only interest, and indeed the interest of DISEC is the peace of the community and the district. That is our role only and we do not intend to shirk this responsibility for anything, irrespective of whatever mischief people will want to play with it for their parochial interest," the DCE cautioned.  

Mr Fenu however reiterated his readiness to engage further with the factions and ensure the peace is not breached.