Akyem Kotoku, a mining community in the Eastern Region, was on Saturday, May 26, 2012 thrown into a state of shock and utter bewilderment as inhabitants were brutalised and shot at by fully-armed factions of Attafuah, the rival claimant to the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Stool.
Narrating the incident in an exclusive meeting with Today, the Paramount Chief of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Nana Oseadeayo Frimpong-Manso IV, pointed accusing fingers at the Chief of Akyem Enyinase, who doubles as a member of the Council State, Nana Gyamadu, and the Queen Mother of Akyem Kototu, Akua Dansu Asantewa, accusing them of being the brains behind the recent attack on him and his group.
Flanked by the elders and kingmakers of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Nana Frimpong-Manso, alleged that the violence had been ostensibly orchestrated by Nana Gyamadu and Akua Dansu, because he (Nana Frimpong-Manso) and his kinsmen have constantly resisted their (the two’s) attempts to misappropriate funds given to the traditional area by Newmont Goldmines to improve the social condition and build infrastructure for the people in the area.
Nana Oseadeayo even alleged that the misappropriation of funds has been going on for years on end.
According to Oseadeayo Nana Frimpong-Manso, the two knowing how guilty they were, were trying to protect their interest by sparking that condemnable act of violence.
However, in a sharp rebuttal, the two accused, Nana Gyamadu and Akua Asantewa, flatly denied all the allegations made by Nana Frimpong-Manso against them, describing him as a “pathological liar.”
They believe Nana Frimpong-Manso rather made the allegations against them for fear of being arrested for his leading role in the rumpus in the township.
Nana Gyamadu and Akua Asantewa narrated that Nana Frimpong-Manso after celebrating the Akwasidae Festival on Sunday, May 27, 2012, was advised by the combined team of military and police; who were apparently brought to the town to protect him (Nana Frimpong-Manso) to leave the Enyinasen Township, since his security was as at stake.
Nana Frimpong Manso in apparent defiance called the bluff of the security officials saying “you can go to hell, I have my trained macho men around and they can protect me, I want to hold a Traditional Council meeting on Friday June 1, 2012.”
This eventually led to the security officials leaving the town, causing the under-fire chief to be left in a lurch, the two accused revealed.
Against this backdrop, the two accused noted that the rival Attafuah faction, still nursing the wound of the killing of one of their own last year by Nana Frimpong-Manso’s faction took advantage of the absence of the security personnel, entered Nana Frimpong-Manso’s palace and started slashing and hacking down people.
“We were however shocked when the Daily Graphic and other ‘rented newspapers’ reported that we are the brains behind the recent attack on Nana Frimpong-Manso and his group…this is because we (the two overlords) have been greatly supporting Nana Frimpong-Manso to be re-instated after his name was expunged from the register of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs as a result of litigation over the rightful person to ascend the throne of the Akyem Kotoku Paramount Stool.”
Fuming with rage, the two royals also described as untrue allegations by Nana Frimpong-Manso that they have been misappropriating funds given to the traditional area by Newmont Goldmines Limited stating that it is yet another string of outrageous lies that Nana Frimpong-Manso continues to churn out against them to make them look ridiculous before the public.
They explained that the said Newmont funds are given to the chiefs and people who played instrumental roles in the setting up of the company in the locality.
According to them, Nana Frimpong-Manso after his enstoolment about thirteen (13) years ago, lived in London all throughout leaving the administration of the traditional area in their care adding that when Nana Frimpong-Manso came back from London recently to celebrate the Akwasidae Festival he was given an amount of GH¢5000 as his share of the money.
This, they indicated, was after they put in place a comprehensive system where Newmont Ghana Gold, was made to pay the financial goodwill to the chiefs and people of the area.
According to them, it is apparent Nana Frimpong-Manso’s beef stems from the fact that he was not satisfied with the amount given him since he expected more after all these years abroad.
“We were taking aback when we were told by the management of Newmont Ghana Gold that Nana Frimpong-Manso has written to them to the effect that they should directly pay the money to him (Nana Frimpong-Manso) and not us (Nana Gyamadu and Akua Asantewa).”
Nana Frimpong-Manso stated categorically: “Nana Gyamadu fueled the flames of the chieftaincy dispute in the area by intimidating everyone with his Council-of-State status and feels the unrest works for him.”
The visibly worried Nana Frempong-Manso intimated that the resultant feud led to three people receiving gunshot wounds, including the Oda Municipal Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Issah Mohammed Cantona; who led a team to foil the attack and one Kwame Mintah, 35, and Daniel Amponsah, 21, who are still on admission at the Oda Government Hospital.
Nana Frempong Manso found incomprehensible the fact that the police put behind bars his sympathizers, while persons of the opposing side who illegally entered his palace and started slashing and hacking down people, were only questioned and released by the police.
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