The worried youth addressing the press conference
The youth of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area have called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene to resolve the over two-decade-old chieftaincy conflict in the area. The conflict has claimed several lives, destroyed several properties and become a hindrance to development in the area.
The group’s call follows the President’s successful intervention restoring peace to Dagbon.
The youth say the area has not known peace since the demise of its overlord, Okoforobour Agyeman Attafuah IV, some 21 years ago, hence the call.
The two royal houses of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Attafuah and Frimpong-Manso houses, have been fighting over who is the rightful heir to the Kotoku throne since the demise of the last Kotokuhene, Okofrobuor Agyeman Attafua IV, in 1998.
The over 20-year-old dispute has transcended four different political regimes.
A worried Krontihene of Akyem Kotoku, Obrempong Gyamfi Saforo Kyere II, last year disclosed that the over two-decade-old dispute has made it impossible for the chiefs and elders of the area to visit any president since Ghana’s Fourth Republic was born. He stated that due to that, even when the politicians in the area need the support of the Traditional Council to lobby for projects for the area, it becomes difficult.
He pleaded with the leaders of the two houses to take the bold decision of burying their differences and coming together to solve their own issue.
No development in conflict
At a news conference at Akyem Oda last week, the youth from both houses, who are claimants to the throne, said they have realised Akyem Kotoku can never see development with the continuous chieftaincy disputes. They have therefore decided to come together to demand for peace and unity from their elders.
They said the 20-year-old conflict has only hindered development in the area, hence their call on the President for his intervention.
“We are appealing to the President. We know him to be peace-loving. Just as he did in the Dagbon case, we are pleading with him to intervene in our case too,” they said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Youth, Kwame Attafuah, has also appealed to the family heads of the two royal houses to withdraw all chieftaincy matters from all courts in order to pave way for “unity talks”.
