TUOBODOM AGAIN...As chieftaincy divides the town (GRAPHIC NSEMPA, LEAD STORY, JAN 18, 2010)

By Kwame Asare Boadu,
Tuobodom.

THERE is uneasy calm at Tuobodom in the Brong Ahafo Region over who is the chief of the town as two chiefs, one owing allegiance to the Asantehene and the other to the Techimanhene, lay claim to the stool.
The two chiefs, Barima Obeng Ameyaw I, who owes allegiance to the Techiman Stool, and Nana Baffour Asare II, whose allegiance is to the Asantehene, operate from different palaces in the town.
Each of them has his sub-chiefs and have been sitting in state separately to adjudicate on cases as and when they appear before them.
Some residents of the town who spoke to Graphic Nsempa during a visit to Techiman recently, appealed to the authorities to do something about the situation before it explodes.
According to them, the situation was a disincentive to the unity, peace and development of the area and must be arrested at all cost.
Indeed, in 2008, during a visit by the then Minister of Chieftaincy, Mr S.K. Boafo, to the Techiman Traditional Area, the Omanhene of Techiman, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, appealed to the ministry to help resolve the Tano-Subin chieftaincy dispute.
Tuobodom is part of the Tano-Subin area of the Brong Ahafo Region where a major conflict broke out leading to loss of lives and destruction of property after the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II created paramount stools in Tuobodom, Tanoso, Tanodumase and Buoyem in 1997.
The predominantly farming community, which became popular when hiplife group, Nkasei, released their hit song, “Yefri Tuobodom” is now living with two chiefs with all the attendant threats to peace, and the situation had created divisions in the town and retarded development in a way.
There is another interesting aspect to the whole drama. While Nana Barima Ameyaw is an Odikro (just below paramount chief) Nana Baffour Asare is a paramount chief.
Nana Baffour Asare was enstooled as Paramount Chief of Tuobodom at a colourful ceremony of the Asanteman Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi about three years ago where he swore the oath of allegiance to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene.
On that day, Baffuor Asare promised to wholeheartedly serve the Asantehene to ensure the rapid development of the area and the Asanteman.
He is a member of the Asanteman Council, which has the Asantehene as the life president.
But, when the Techiman Traditional Council sits, it is Barima Ameyaw who represent Tuobodom and it is duly recognised by the traditional council.
Since the chieftaincy conflict broke out in the Tano-Subin area, security agencies have been keeping close eyes on developments in the area to prevent any nasty recurrence.