GRi Press Review 08 - 09
- 2003
Chiefs welcome construction of temporary palace
Advisory Committee joins the fray
Changes in security posts imminent
Chiefs welcome construction of temporary palace
Yendi (Northern Region) 8 September 2003 - The Committee of Eminent Chiefs on the Dagbon crisis has given its support to a decision that a temporary palace be constructed for the King of Dagbon, the Ya Na.
The decision followed a series of consultations with representatives of the Abudu and Andani gates of the Dagbon Traditional Area.
A statement issued by the committee said the decision to build a temporary palace was taken because it was contrary to Dagbon tradition to rehabilitate and reoccupy the old Gbewa Palace which had been damaged twice and blood-stained. The temporary palace is to be built at a site where preparations will be made for the interment of the late Ya Na Yakubu Andani.
The statement signed by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is the Chairman of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, Yagbon Wura Bawa Doshie and Prof John Nabila, Wulugu-Naba, said funds had already been made available for the construction of the temporary palace where widows of the late Ya-Na were expected to reside.
The statement said the arrangement would contribute the phase of the programme to lay the foundation for peace in Dagbon. - Graphic
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Advisory Committee joins the fray
Ho (Volta Region) 8 September 2003 - The Chronicle newspaper's investigation into the chieftaincy affairs of Anlo Traditional Council have revealed that members of the Anlo Advisory Committee have resolved not to recognize the installation of Inspector Agboba as the Awomefia.
The member said the installation of Inspector Agboba was in contravention of the chieftaincy Act and blamed the Volta Regional House of Chiefs for its inability to resolve the impasse. According to the committee until the injunction is revoked any activity in connection with the installation of the Awomefia contravenes the chieftaincy Act.
"There is going to be unnecessary loss of lives and property, instability and animosity as negative forces are set in motion to retard development in the area," one aggrieved official said.
According to them the present stalemate and hardening of positions in the dispute may cause a tragedy similar to what happened in Dagbon.
Col. Andrews Amuzu (Rtd), a member of the Council, described the nomination and installation of the Agboba as wrong because the three days have not decided on who should be selected. "Agboba way in other words be the right person but until he proves his lineage to the three gates, he is not the right person. Look the due process of installation was not followed and that alone, amounts to violation of the Act."
"He has complicated things for himself as he comes to implement laws in the area. I say this because the installation of Awomefia in the evening with a huge police presence contradicted the rejoicing that should accompany the coming of a new Awomefia. That people failed to witness the installation in daylight was a clear manifestation of violation of the law."
He said it was unbelievable that the Regional House of Chiefs woefully failed to act in the face of an injunction on the issue. He accused Torbgui Addo, Fiaga of Klikor of using Machiavellian tactics to install Inspector Agboba without the necessary ritual being performed.
According to a youth leader, Paul Kudoto, the townsfolk have appealed to the IGP to cause an investigation into the circumstances under which the son of Agboba, a serving police officer has been allowed to come to Anloga to fire warning shots. Kudoto said the youth would resist the outdooring with all the force at their disposal.
"We the Anlos have all agreed that nobody above the age of 50 and with less than university education would be our next king. Agboba is 70 years old and obviously to old to occupy the throne and he has no been to the university so he is not qualified to be our king."
"We are waiting to see those chiefs who will appear that day to attend his swearing in," he warning - Chronicle
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Changes in security posts imminent
Accra (Greater Accra) 8 September 2003 - Credible reports gathered over the weekend points to an imminent shake-up within the Police and Prisons Service. There is a possibility that the changes at the Prisons Service will be announced by this weekend. Whilst that of the Police Service could see some significant shifts in the National and Greater Accra Regional Commands without any problems, that of the Prisons Service might not be the same.
The "Gye Nyame Concord" newspaper says members of the Northern Caucus within the ruling NPP have met over how to halt the planned announcement of the intended shake-up by the government. The planned changes are reported to have the blessing of the Ministry of Interior.
The Director General of the Prisons Service, Richard Kuuire is to be directed to proceed on leave. But instead of the job falling on the next in command, Deputy Director General in charge of Administration, B.T. Baba, sources say he would also proceed on leave prior to retirement together with his immediate boss.
Proposed to replace them are W.K. Asiedu and Madam Matilda Baffour Awuah, two top officers recently promoted over some colleagues.
Asiedu is earmarked for the top job, with Madam Awuah and Kofi Bansah serving as Deputy Directors. Another officer, H.O. Korney, insiders say, is also up for the Director of Prisons position.
While this may seem like an ordinary shake-up, some members of the Northern caucus within the party say otherwise. For them, the planned directives to be issued to Kuuire and Baba could not have been part of a routine exercise, but an agenda by some elements within the ruling party to deprive Northerners of their last security post in government, whilst retaining the posts for Akans.
And this is the song they intend to sing once the announcement is made, sources in the Caucus told the paper after a meeting witnessed by its reporter. They have therefore vowed to take the issue up.
Efforts made by the paper to reach the government on the issue proved futile. - Concord
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