As part of measures to resolve the chieftaincy dispute between three clans in the Asere Division of the Ga State, two committees have officially been inaugurated to handle the matter.
These include the constitution review, conflict and dispute resolution committees.
The six member constitution review committee is chaired by private legal practitioner, Mr. Nelson Cofie of the Asere Divisional Council.
Other members of the committee are Bliss Amartey, a legal practitioner, Prince Frederick Ashie Neequaye, Felix Quartey, legal practitioner, Nii Dromo I Anorhuma Mantse and Nii Quao Donkor II Tsono Mantse.
Mr. Nelson Cofie explained the rationale behind the formation of the two committees saying, “Because of the variety of customary services depending on what tribe one comes from the nation is guided by the Chieftaincy Act which of course is subject to the Constitution of the Republic.”
He raised alarm, “As we gather here for this inaugural ceremony, there are disputes concerning each stool; if there is none in any particular stool or quarter then it is simmering and in no time it will rear its ugly head.”
Mr. Cofie said the committee had limited time and pleaded with all concerned to cooperate with it to accomplish its task.
He stated, “We expect all stools to make an input because our report may be such that other stools may derive some benefits from it however minute.”
He further implied, “We are not mandated to question or destroy existing legal or customary structures in Asere; our mission is to evaluate what is on the ground and see if they are in accord with modern trends and recommend to the people of Asere through those who appointed us to this committee.”
“We have not been asked to write a new constitution for the people of Asere; we are just to look into the existing provisions and through contributions to see if there are areas of modification.”
Citi News gathered that there has been an outstanding feud between three clans in the Asere Divisional area of the Ga State.
The feuding factions are the Frimpong We, Agbon We and the Djorshie We who for the past 40 years have been quarreling over legitimacy to the Asere chieftaincy title.
Though there was a court ruling in 2007 by Justice Asiedu of an Accra High Court in favour of the Frimpong We that they have a right to nominate, elect and install a substantive Mantse for the Asere Division of the Ga State, the other two clans disagreed with the court ruling.
By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana