A Sunyani high court judge, Justice Patrick Baayeh, has appealed to chiefs to take a second look at how they do things in their traditional areas that go against the laws of the country.
He said cases, including land cases, are not resolved easily because of the posture of some chiefs, which also affects peace and development.
He made the remarks after administering the oaths for three new members into the Bono Regional House of Chiefs on Monday, December 19, 2022.
“90 percent of cases that come before me are land cases, which should not be the case. Every traditional council must know the extent of their land”, he advised.
He further said it is important for chiefs to do a proper layout, if they don’t already have one, to know where there is supposed to be a school, market, and development for residential purposes.
Justice Baayeh also revealed that a lot of issues in some traditional areas could be settled easily but because “the chief has taken a position that I work with power and not law, meanwhile we all live under laws”.
“So my plea to Nananom (chiefs) is that let us take a second look at some of the ways we do things in our traditional areas and abide by the laws, and we all live in peace”.
The three new paramount chiefs of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs are Osabarima Debrah Adjei II (Seikwa chief, in the Tain District), Odomfour Dr. Kwasi Apraku III (Odumase no1 chief in the Sunyani West Municipality), and Odeneho Afrah Brempong III (Suma chief in the Jaman North District).
The chiefs took the oath of secrecy, the oath of judicial, and the oath of membership. Their acceptance to the house signifies an end and peaceful resolution to the many years of litigation.
The President of the house and chief of Dormaa, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, in his address said, measures have been taken to resolve the remaining 5 chieftaincy issues and avoid new litigations to boost development.
He also appealed to the President, through the Bono Regional Minister who attended the meeting, to fix the many deplorable roads across the region.
“Aside from the Sunyani town roads, Sunyani-Chira road, Badu, Seikwa, Nkrankwanta roads, the people are also displeased with the Berekum-Sampa road”, he stated.
“I am not saying it has been so during your (NPP) term alone, but since the J.J Rawlings era, we always hear it has been mentioned in the budget, but it never gets completed. Let the government know that the people are not happy with the treatment given to the roads. It should be a priority so that if it’s 2023, they start and finish it. If you (Minister) can do this for us, I will publicly praise you and the government”, he added.
Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, expressed worry about the growing spousal murder cases in the region.
“It will interest you to note that, from June to November 30, 2022, 17 cases of spousal murder have been recorded”, he revealed.
She attributed some of the situations to the lack of understanding in most couples of the current generation, hence appealed to the chiefs to join hands in addressing the situation.
