Tension in Cape Coast over ruling to destool Ogua chief

Source: citifmonline.com  -  Following a high court ruling asking the National House of Chiefs to delete from its records, the name of the Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Council, reports from Cape Coast indicate fierce resistance by some residents and sub-chiefs over the ruling.

The High Court on Wednesday ruled that the process leading to the enstoolment of Osabarima Kwesi Atta II some 17 years ago was fraudulent.

The traditional council is expected to mount a strong appeal in the courts against the earlier decision.

The traditional council is also expected to address a press conference on the issue today [Thursday].

A Cape Coast High Court presided over by Supervising High Court Judge and Appeal Court Judge, Justice G.S. Suurebareh on Wendesday ordered the NHC to strike out the Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area.

The order was necessitated by a writ brought before the court by the Plaintiff, one Opanyin Kofi Amoonoo, against Nana Afari Twako, the Central Regional House of Chiefs, National House of Chiefs and Osabarima Atta, for using fraudulent means to get him enstooled as chief.

Reading the judgment in court yesterday, Justice Suurebareh stated that the plaintiff claimed the declaration forms used to swear in chiefs at the national house of chiefs were deceitfully answered by Osabarima to get him registered in the house as a paramount chief.

He revealed that Osabarima was asked whether he was in possession of the black stool of which he answered in the affirmative when in actual fact he was not in possession of the stool by then.

He again pointed out that Osabarima was asked whether there was litigation concerning his enstoolment of which he answered no but there was a case pending at the central regional house of chiefs challenging his enstoolment.

Justice Suurebareh stated that based on the above, the plaintiff accused Osabarima of forging documents to get him sworn in as a paramount chief in the national house of chiefs.

According to him, he lied to the house and added that that has necessitated for his name to be removed from the national house of chiefs register.

The order by the court saw people jubilating in the court who have planned to organise a victory carnival through the streets of the Cape Coast metropolis to celebrate it.

The order by the court has also left the people of Cape Coast wondering whether this year’s Fetu Afahye festival which comes off on the first Saturday of September will happen.

Osabarima Kwesi Atta was enstooled as Paramount Chief of Cape Coast in 1998.

Meanwhile, a substantive case challenging his enstoolment is still pending at the Central Regional House of Chiefs.