James Town Youths Angry At NHC And GARHC--For Fueling Ngleshie Alata Paramount Chieftaincy Dispute

The membership of the National House of Chiefs (NHC) and Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs (GARHC) have incurred the wrath of the youths in the various communities within the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area of James Town in Accra.

The youths accused NHC and the GARHC for fueling the ending Ngleshie Alata Paramount Chieftaincy dispute, saying that their actions and inactions were breeding serious tension and insecurity in the various within the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area.

The youths expresed disappointment in President of NHC who doubles as the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area in the Western North Region, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II for exhibiting unlawful conduct which has created serious confusion at James Town in Accra.

They made reference to the current stance of the National House of Chiefs to file application of the stay of execution at Supreme Court challenging the judgement delivered by Court of Appeal in Kumasi to order the NHC to restore the name of Nii Boni Tackie Adama Latse II into the national register of chiefs as a legitimate Ga Mantse for the NHC stated that its action to go to the Supreme Court premised on the pending chieftaincy dispute case before the Judicial Committee of GARHC against legitimacy of Nii Boni Tackie Adama Latse.

"So if you, President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II took this bold decision to file an application to challenge the Court of Appeal judgment and similarly, you are aware that there is a chieftaincy dispute case pending before the Judicial Committee of the GARHC at Dodowa against the purported installation of Prince Asharku Bruce Quaye and why is that you people went ahead to officially gazzette the embattled Prince Quaye into the national register of chiefs," the youths rethorically asked.

"And that if today Nii Boni Tackie Adama Latse’s judgement was delivered in his favour and you are saying that you are going to Supreme Court to quash it because there is case pending of the Judicial Committees in the GARHC at Dodowa. So is it not you people are causing our chieftaincy dispute problems in James Town," they declared.

"Automatically, we are saying that it is a high time for the central government to stop the Judicial Committee of both National House of Chiefs and Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to hear  chieftaincy dispute cases. The government should ensure these chieftaincy dispute cases were heard in the High Court in the country.

They called on the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, to intervene and instruct the Judicial Committee of the NHC and Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to stop handling chieftaincy matters.

Particularly the youth argued that some of the chiefs who sit on the GARHC’s Judicial Committee are themselves embroiled in ongoing legal disputes over their chieftaincy statuses. 

They believe it is a violation of legal principles 
for these chiefs to be involved in adjudicating chieftaincy disputes while their own cases remain pending in the courts.

They called on Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim to impress upon the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to reverse wrongfuly and unlawful induction of Prince Asharku Bruce-Quaye, warning that failure to do so could lead to unrest.  

They expressed dissatisfaction about the way and manner the members of the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs for displaying bias in handing the ongoing Ngleshie Alata Paramount chieftaincy involving Prince Ashiaku Bruce Quaye.

They couldn't fathom why the Judicial Committee of the GARHC has postponed or adjourned the Ngleshie Alata Paramount chieftaincy dispute case until further notice, saying that this decision is not best in the interest of the people in the area.

"We are in confusion about this current situation because looking at its crucial nature we want the speed trial of the case for the peace to come to the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area of James Town in Accra," the youths stated.

It was clearly stated in a court proceedings in a case between Nii Okpe vrs Prince Asharku Bruce Quaye pending before  the judicial committee of the GRAHC, that Prince Bruce Quaye does not hail from the two ruling houses in Ngleshie Alata.

The pending case they were referring to is the case with Nii Okpe vers Prince Asharku Bruce-Quaye with with the suit No.GRAC/P.S/2022.

According to them, the counsel for applicant, Nii Okpe made the substantive matter in the court at Dodowa regarding who rightfully occupied the Ngleshie Alata Paramount Royal Stool.

They indicated that the Counsel noted in his statement that "during pendency of this case,particularly at the last sitting of the Judicial Committee of GARHC and while the case has been determined, this honourable house through the Registrar of the GARHC moved Chieftaincy Declaration (CD) forms from here to the National House of Chiefs where they also hurriedly and in a rumble style manner approved the CD forms and entered the name of respondent (Prince Asharku Bruce Quaye

"Not long after Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs inducted Prince Asharku Bruce-Quaye into their fold when the membership of the house knew very well that there is a matter pending before the house against the respondent," the lawyer statement quoted.

With multiple court cases challenging his legitimacy, the elders and youth groups of Ngleshie Alata insists that any attempt to impose Bruce-Quaye on the people of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area will be met with legal action.

They cautioned all those involved in trying to force Prince Asharku Quaye on Ngleshie Alata to stop what they are doing and allow the proper customary and traditional things to be done, otherwise there is a real potential of serious trouble erupting.

They fumed that "We will use all options available to us including legal options reverse what has been done and revert back to the status quo ante."

They stressed the recent gazette given to Prince Asharku Bruce for the Ngleshie Jamestown paramountcy is a clear case of fraudulent and corrupt practices by the GARCH and National House of Chiefs headed by the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II.

The youth groups further appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, the Chieftaincy Minister, the Inspector General of Police, and the various security agencies to have an interest in paramount chieftaincy matters ongoing in  Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area of James Town.

They raised concerns over the legitimacy of Wetse Kojo II, originally known as Prince Asharku Bruce Quaye.

The groups indicated that Prince Quaye is not a royal, nor does he come from the two royal gates where the chief of Jamestown, Ngleshie Alata, is considered.

Furthermore, they have reiterated the immediate reshuffle the current Registrar of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Mr Addo Enoch and one lady by name Priscilla popularly known as Mammy Osofo to ensure a more transparent and efficient handling of chieftaincy matters.

"We are calling on Honourable Ahmed Ibrahim to muster up the courage to transfer Mr Addo Enoch to help settle the long running James Town Royal Paramount Chieftaincy dispute at Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area in Accra," the groups stressed.

The call has become very necessary because, according to them Mr Enoch and one lady by name Priscilla, popularly known as Mammy Osofo at Dodowa office of GARHC were interfering in the paramount chieftaincy matters in the area.

They alleged that Mr Addo Enoch has played a leading role in wrongful transfer of the former Registrar of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council, Madam Mercy Asante to the Dodowa office of GARHC.

They reiterated the call on these personalities to be mindful of dealing with Mr Addo Enoch because he allegedly used the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Titus Glover and former Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng to secure chieftaincy gazette for Prince  Quaye which has fuled chieftaincy dispute in Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area.
Pix: Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, President of National House of Chiefs