4 CHIEFS TAKE NATIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS TO COURT (PAGE 20, JUNE 8, 2010)

FOUR paramount chiefs from the Brong Ahafo Region who owe allegiance to the Asantehene have gone to court praying for an order of mandamus to compel the National House of Chiefs (NHC) to enter their names into the national register of chiefs.
The chiefs are the Tuobodomhene, Nana Asare Baffour II, Nana Oduro Boama, Omanhene of Tanoboase, Nana Kwaku Boakye Yiadom, Omanhene of Tanoso, and Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, Omanhene of Kenyasi Number One.
According to them, the NHC had wilfully refused to perform its administrative functions by failing to include their names in the national register, and that unless the court compelled it to do so there was no way it was going to act.
When the case was called for hearing at the Kumasi High Court last Wednesday, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Kwame Ansu-Gyeabour, asked the counsel for the plaintiffs, Nana Obiri Boahen, to file a written submission of his case at the court before the next adjourned date of July 2, 2010.
The affidavit filed on behalf of the four chiefs by the Tuobodomhene said by virtue of the fact that Tuobodom, Tanoboase and Tanoso stools did not serve under any stool in the Brong Ahafo Region but rather under the Golden Stool, the erstwhile PNDC government on August 5, 1988, created a traditional council for them whose presidency was to be rotational.
It said based on the recommendations of the PNDC’s committee set up to look into the Ashanti/Brong Ahafo chieftaincy affairs, all letters affecting the three paramountcies were referred to the Asantehene.
The affidavit further stated that on December 12, 1996, the Asantehene elevated the three stools to paramount status, and in furtherance the chiefs occupying the stools swore the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene to legitimise their elevation.
The affidavit said all attempts by the chiefs to get the NHC to enter their names into the national register had proved unsuccessful since their elevation.
According to the affidavit, May 7, 2007, their counsel wrote to the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and the then Ministry of Chieftaincy expressing their strong exception to the marginalisation of their elevated stools from not participating in the activities of the Regional House.
“That on February 26, 2008, the Asanteman Council wrote to the NHC drawing its attention to the embarrassment which was being caused to us – elevated chiefs and Asanteman Council as a result of the indifference and unfair treatment.”
“That in all cases our requests have been treated with contempt by the NHC and the Regional House of Chiefs,” the affidavit said.
On the Kenyasi Number One Stool, the affidavit said Nana Abiri, the Omanhene, is the customary successor of the late Nana Kwaku Acheampong, the immediate past Omanhene and that since his enstoolment, he had not been listed in the national register of chiefs even though he is a member of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs.