Media reports on a lingering chieftaincy dispute in Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region evokes worrying images of how some of our traditional authorities still appear to be out of date with reality.
According to the reports, but for police intervention, factions in the local conflict would have spilled blood and caused commotion in the community. The ripple effects would have been women and children fleeing to nearby communities, halting of economic activities, closing down of schools and health facilities, among others.
Embarrassing
Nene Tetteh Zogli III, the victim in the unfortunate saga, is a claimant to the stool. He appeared to have ignored signals of threat to his position and went on to conduct a festival. The aggrieved faction was also poised to waylay and abduct him, even if that would cause a public uproar and embarrass government officials, diplomats, tourists and innocent community folk who had come to witness the sacred event.
The raid culminated in canopies, chairs, tables, platforms and the entire set for the occasion being torched as townsfolk and dignitaries ran helter-skelter to avoid being caught in the crossfire of the attack on civility and common sense.
Pig-headedness
The victim was said to have ignored police intelligence and the need to acquire a permit before holding that sacred event. In view of that, an unavoidable case of the two factions acting lawless was recorded.
As was the case, each side decided to deliberately ignore caution and the need to act in the interest of law and the public peace. Indeed, they disrespected the police, the law and their own sacred event, which they had desecrated by the very act of lawlessness that characterised the holding of that public event.
It appears from the account, too, that there is a pending court case over who should lead the community. And while the processes are rolling out, someone decided to damn it and do as it pleased him and his faction.
Ga-Dangme chieftaincy disputes
Chieftaincy disputes among communities in Ga-Dangme jurisdiction have been too mouthful since the 90s. Particularly in Odododiodioo or Central Accra or the Ga Traditional Area, it has been protracted and worse.
Fortunately, despite the rancorous situation, open confrontation and civil violence has been managed, with effective police monitoring and engagement with stakeholders, though it occasionally shows up in land guard fights.
As we have been made aware, there are processes for resolving these conflicts, and the processes are so inclusive that chiefs and traditional stakeholders have no excuse arming themselves to confront brothers and sisters.
Dagbon lessons
We believe that the traditional authorities in Manya Krobo are aware that there are processes for resolving such conflicts. These processes include diplomacy, by which our Eminent Chiefs managed to bring calm to the northern regions, particularly Dagbon, after decades of open and veiled conflict that brought residents and traditional authorities nothing but stagnation and insecurity.
Whatever the obstacles to resolving this matter are, it is our conviction that conflict and confrontation cannot be the answer. As for those ‘weapons’, many communities have tried them before, and the records show that they cannot be sustainable.
That is why we call on the feuding factions to commit themselves to engagement by subjecting themselves to the processes – from the Regional House of Chiefs to the National House of Chiefs and the Supreme Court.
Abduction, arson, assassination and mayhem are weapons that cannot be accepted in these circumstances and age, and the factions must be willing to talk to move their communities forward.