Mr. Alex Asum-Ahensan
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27th June, 2012
NO COMMENT ...On Banishment Of 3 Okyeman Royals
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr. Alex Asum-Ahensan, says the banished royals from the Asona clan of the Akyem Abuakwa State can seek redress at the court, if they are not happy with the decision.
Besides, he said the three people could also lodge a complaint with the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to investigate and rule on the matter.
Mr Asum-Ahensan said this when the Times contacted him on the story it carried on Monday in which the Okyeman Traditional Council officially announced the banishment of Odenye Nana Kwame
Adjei Boateng and two others from the Asona royal clan.
He declined further comment.
Odehye Boateng was expelled together with Elvis Boakye Yiadom and Akwasi Amofa who were said to be his accomplices, for accusing the Okyehene, Osagyefo Ofori Panin II, of engaging in illegal mining in the area last year.
Odehye Boateng, however, described the banishment as ‘joke’.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, on his part, said since the matter might end up in court and his outfit joined in the suit, it would, be prejudicial for him to comment on the matter.
A source close to the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs told the Times that the house was yet to receive any complaint from the affected persons.
“If any of the parties brings a complaint to the House, we would consider it,” the source said.
A source at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) said the matter was purely traditional, so the issue of human rights violation could not be investigated by the Commission.
To symbolise the banishment of the three people, one sheep was slaughtered and three trees which symbolised the three people were planted in the royal mausoleum as signs to the future generation, that they were no longer part of the royal family.
The three, whose names were cancelled from the royal family, are not to attend or participate in any funeral gathering or other social activities in the traditional area.
They would also not to be buried in the royal mausoleum or on any part of Okyeman, and would not be allowed to associate with any member of the family or persons from Okyeman.
Anybody from the area seen to be associating with them, would be summond to answer for his action.
Speaking to The Ghanaian Times, the Okyeman State lawyer, Kwame Acheampong Boateng, said Odehye Boateng, who was found guilty of falsely accusing the Okyehene, was summoned before the council last year, where he was fined a total of 72 sheep and 36 cartons of schnapps to pacify the stool for his action.
He said that on the said date when Odehye Boateng was supposed to meet the Council, he refused to attend the meeting and later slaughtered a sheep in front of the Ofori Panin Fie to symbolize the destoolment of the Okyehene, a ritual which could only be performed by the kind makers.
The council, together with all the chiefs met to officially banish him and his two accomplices from the area.
Responding to the news when contacted by the Times on phone, Odehye Boateng said his banishment was news to him, adding that, “the council has not officially called me to inform me about its decision”.
He said he had presented evidence to support all the allegations he made to prove his case and so there was no justification for his fine.
It is recalled that in November last year, Odehye Boateng, supported by his two other accomplices, were said to have accused the Okyehene of engaging in illegal mining activities in on an Accra-based radio station.
He was said to have invoked the Okyeman Ntamkese which belongs to the Okyehene as the final arbitrator of the oath.
Later, he allegedly slaughtered a sheep in front of the Ofori Panin fie to symbolize the destoolment of the Okyerehene, and when he was asked to appear before the traditional council, he refused.
The Council found him guilty on three counts of falsely accusing the Okyehene, refusing to appear before the traditional council and wrongfully invoking the Okyeman Ntamkese, and imposed a fine of 72 sheep and 36 cartons of schnapps which were to be used to pacify the stool, but he refused to pay.
Besides, he said the three people could also lodge a complaint with the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to investigate and rule on the matter.
Mr Asum-Ahensan said this when the Times contacted him on the story it carried on Monday in which the Okyeman Traditional Council officially announced the banishment of Odenye Nana Kwame
Adjei Boateng and two others from the Asona royal clan.
He declined further comment.
Odehye Boateng was expelled together with Elvis Boakye Yiadom and Akwasi Amofa who were said to be his accomplices, for accusing the Okyehene, Osagyefo Ofori Panin II, of engaging in illegal mining in the area last year.
Odehye Boateng, however, described the banishment as ‘joke’.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, on his part, said since the matter might end up in court and his outfit joined in the suit, it would, be prejudicial for him to comment on the matter.
A source close to the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs told the Times that the house was yet to receive any complaint from the affected persons.
“If any of the parties brings a complaint to the House, we would consider it,” the source said.
A source at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) said the matter was purely traditional, so the issue of human rights violation could not be investigated by the Commission.
To symbolise the banishment of the three people, one sheep was slaughtered and three trees which symbolised the three people were planted in the royal mausoleum as signs to the future generation, that they were no longer part of the royal family.
The three, whose names were cancelled from the royal family, are not to attend or participate in any funeral gathering or other social activities in the traditional area.
They would also not to be buried in the royal mausoleum or on any part of Okyeman, and would not be allowed to associate with any member of the family or persons from Okyeman.
Anybody from the area seen to be associating with them, would be summond to answer for his action.
Speaking to The Ghanaian Times, the Okyeman State lawyer, Kwame Acheampong Boateng, said Odehye Boateng, who was found guilty of falsely accusing the Okyehene, was summoned before the council last year, where he was fined a total of 72 sheep and 36 cartons of schnapps to pacify the stool for his action.
He said that on the said date when Odehye Boateng was supposed to meet the Council, he refused to attend the meeting and later slaughtered a sheep in front of the Ofori Panin Fie to symbolize the destoolment of the Okyehene, a ritual which could only be performed by the kind makers.
The council, together with all the chiefs met to officially banish him and his two accomplices from the area.
Responding to the news when contacted by the Times on phone, Odehye Boateng said his banishment was news to him, adding that, “the council has not officially called me to inform me about its decision”.
He said he had presented evidence to support all the allegations he made to prove his case and so there was no justification for his fine.
It is recalled that in November last year, Odehye Boateng, supported by his two other accomplices, were said to have accused the Okyehene of engaging in illegal mining activities in on an Accra-based radio station.
He was said to have invoked the Okyeman Ntamkese which belongs to the Okyehene as the final arbitrator of the oath.
Later, he allegedly slaughtered a sheep in front of the Ofori Panin fie to symbolize the destoolment of the Okyerehene, and when he was asked to appear before the traditional council, he refused.
The Council found him guilty on three counts of falsely accusing the Okyehene, refusing to appear before the traditional council and wrongfully invoking the Okyeman Ntamkese, and imposed a fine of 72 sheep and 36 cartons of schnapps which were to be used to pacify the stool, but he refused to pay.
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