I Have No Interest In Battor Chieftaincy Dispute, I am Only Concerned About the Security Of The Area!–North Tongu DCE Clears Air

DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (DCE) of the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, Mr. Divine Osborn Kwadzo Fenu, has stated that the series of attacks on his person, threats to his life and blame games against him by Paramount Chief of Battor Traditional Area, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII and his kigsmen after the bloody chieftaincy clashed at Battor township on December Friday 16, 2022 are unfortunate, regrettable and worrying.

According to Mr. Fenu who doubles as the chairman of the North Tongu District Security Committee (DISEC), he finds it extremely difficult to understand why Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII would blame him for the avoidable incident which has claimed precious lives of persons in Battor township.

The visibly worried DCE indicated that 
Torgbega Patamia Dzekley VII knows the mediation roles the North Tongu DISEC played in the Battor Paramount Chief Chieftaincy matter that was before the Volta Regional Security Council initially.

"Torgbega Patamia Dzekley VII knows that I am a very loyal citizen and law abiding. He knows I cannot take sides in Battor Paramount Chieftaincy matter because I do not have the traditional capacity or interest. I made it clear to both parties, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII and  Paramount Stool Father of the Dzekley Royal House of the Battor, Zikpoetor Korsi Hottor that none should expect me or my office to take sides in the dispute. 

"I therefore pleaded with the two parties in the dispute not to tag me in the performance of our peace and security enforcement roles. Indeed l cannot take sides because I am not a royal of Battor Paramount Stool," Mr DCE explained.

Mr Fenu was reacting to the call made by Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare to, immediately relieve the Aveyime District Commander, Superintendent George Aboagye and the District Chief Executive (DCE) for North Tongu District Assembly, of their duties in the district.

In a petition to the IGP, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII who doubles as the Vice President of the Volta Regional of Chiefs, noted that the DCE and the senior law enforcement officer have shown gross incompetence in the North Tongu District that has resulted in the unfortunate loss of five lives at Battor township on Friday December 16, 2022 at Battor township.

But in a quick rebuttal, the DCE stressed he is completely innocent, adding that the opening statement of the petition is instructive, that "meetings were arranged to address the dispute between the two factions to address the issue."

He stated categorically that he championed these meetings because by my nature, I am passionate about peace development of North Tongu and indeed Battor traditional area.

"Torgbega Patamia Dzekley VII knows how for instance the North Tongu District Assembly, Sogakope District Police Divisional Command, the Volta Regional Police Command and so on were brought in to resolve the issues peacefully, all by my efforts.

"When injunctions were secured against the festival, Torgbega knows I played a pivotal role in talking to the stakeholders to give peace a chance. It is unfortunate that the organizers, from Torgbega's office, gave fuel to the celebration, against security advice and court injunctions, and so on," the DCE stated.

According to Mr Fenu, the North Tongu DISEC picked intelligence that, the usual enthusiasm of the people for the cherished Hogbeza festival, was taken advantage of by some elements to preach hate against him as the DCE and the security, to the extent that they were willing to attack and visit mayhem on any officers seeking to restrain Torgbega's planning committee and his team from flouting the court order."

He indicated that that "From security intelligence, I was advised to stay off for my safety since they had formed their prejudices already."

The DCE noted that Torgbega Patamia Dzekley VII has been resolute, not willing to compromise on anything except his demands that the security should agree with him that the alleged removal of the stool father was absolute. 

According to the DCE, the security technocrats made it clear that the North Tongu DISEC was unable to arrogate to itself the nonexistent power to adjudicate a chieftaincy dispute between him and his stool father. 

"Both claim their respective purported distoolments were nulities. So how do I, a humble public servant, restrain one side and encourage another?  We took the neutral ground, and proceeded with caution every step of the way, with peaxe and security our only objective and on the advice of regional security before which the matter was.

"It is extremely regrettable that this issue, which could have been resolved peacefully, has led to loss of precious lives.
 
"It is unfair to suggest that, the DCE is the one to blame for our failure to give peace the chance. If  the organizers had listened to DISEC advice, obeyed court orders, heeded security instructions, and so on, we would have averted the unfortunate disturbances," he said.

The DCE pointed that investigations are still ongoing, people are in police custody, the due process is being followed and those whose actions have led to the breach of the peace, when found culpable, will face the full rigors of the law

It would be recalled that five persons including a citizen of Battor who is the chief of Havorkope in Dzemeni in the South Dayi District have been shot dead while several others have sustained various degrees of injuries.

The bloody incident follows a clash between some disgruntled members of the Dzekle Royal Family of Kpeli and the stool father of the Battor Traditional area in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.

The incident which has sparked insecurity, tension and confusion in Battor Traditional Area and its adjoining communities allegedly happened after the alleged destoolment of the paramount chief of the Battor Traditional area.

At a press conference held on November 27, 2022,  the stool father, Zikpitor Korsi Hottor announced that he has destooled Paramount Chief of the Battor Traditional Area, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII, was destooled.

He alleged that the paramount chief had breached customs and traditions of the Battor Traditional Area.

Sadly, during a gathering on Friday December 16, 2022 to process for the firing of musketry in the Battor township ahead of a festival, aggrieved supporters of the destooled paramount chief allegedly clashed with some supporters of the stool father resulting in five deaths and several persons being injured