The chief of Esiama in the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council of the Western region, Nana Kofi Ampoe IV has been demoted for celebrating the annual Kundum festival despite a directive not to do so.
The directive emanating from the traditional council was part of measures instituted to guard against the spread of Ebola.
[contextly_sidebar id=”CA2Paz0RS8T8ObZ7hi8iCbVeqoOG4jnx”]This was around the time government had hinted of a possible ban on public gatherings to prevent a possible spread of the virus into the country.
In a letter dated January 9, 2015 copied to the Bureau of National Investigation and the Ellembelle District Police command, the paramount chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Council Awulai Ameye Kpanyile III indicated “members of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council at their second General Council meeting held of the 9th September, 2014 at Atuabo Royal Palace, passed a resolution to suspend a full celebration of this year’s [2014] Kundum Festival as a result of the outbreak of Ebola Viral Disease in some countries in West Africa as well as the outbreak of Cholera in Ghana.”
But this was violated by the chief of Esiama who went ahead to fully celebrate the festival with support from the people of Esiama.
According to Citi News’ Western Regional correspondent, Obrempong Yaw Ampofo, the CEO of the Ghana Gas Company, Dr. Sipa Yankey was crowned as the development chief of Esiama at the festival.
According to the letter the chief of Esiama and his queen mother failed to honuor three invitations from the paramount chief to explain their actions. As a result Nana Kofi Ampoe has been asked to submit seven sheep, seven boxes of Cattle Bridge and three thousand five hundred cedis.
According to Citi News’ Western regional correspondent, the people of Esiama are not happy with the sanctions against their chief and are threatening to break away from the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council since Esiama is the biggest commercial town in the district.
By: Betty Kankam Boadu/citifmonline.com/Ghana