Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Techniman-Tuobodom dispute...LOOMING CRISIS...High-level govt team dispatched to Manhyia (LEAD STORY, MARCH 17, 2010)

Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

A HIGH-POWERED delegation from the Presidency was at the Manhyia Palace yesterday to confer with the Asantehene over the raging conflict between the Tuobodomhene and the Techimanhene which has drawn Otumfuo Osei Tutu II into the fray.
The delegation, which was led by Brigadier-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (retd), the National Security Advisor, was at the Manhyia Palace to find an amicable solution to the conflict.
Other members of the delegation were the Presidential Advisor, Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah; the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda; the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng Adjei; the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia; the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, and the Board Chairman of the National Sports Council, Mr Kojo Bonsu.
After the initial exchange of greetings, the delegation met the Asantehene behind closed doors.
The delegation was expected to leave for Sunyani yesterday evening for a similar meeting with the Techimanhene today.
Briefing the Asantehene, the Mr Opoku-Manu said the President was concerned about the development between Techiman and Asanteman and would want to avert any future disturbances.
“The President wants this issue resolved as soon as possible before it escalates into something very serious,” he said.
Earlier, members of the Ashanti Regional Security Council had met the Asantehene on the same issue.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Brig-Gen Nunoo Mensah said the meeting had been very fruitful and expressed the hope that something useful would come out of it.
At the time of going to press, reports filtering in from the Manhyia Palace indicated that some people had gathered at the palace chanting war songs and declaring their readiness to defend the Asante Kingdom.
From Techiman, reports also indicated that the youth had also gathered at the Techimanhene’s palace to show their solidarity with the Techimanhene.
From Sunyani, Samuel Duodu reports that the Omanhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, said the council had heard what the Asantehene was reported to have said at the Asanteman Council meeting at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi and would meet at an appropriate time to deliberate on the issue.
He demanded that justice be administered to bring those who allegedly shot at his convoy in October 2008 to book.
Meanwhile, the Brong Ahafo Regional Security Council met in Sunyani yesterday to review the security situation at Tuobodom.
According to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and Chairman of the council, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, the government’s delegation that met Otumfuo Osei Tutu would meet the Techiman Traditional Council today.
He said the situation at Tuobodom was calm and peaceful.

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