The Tetetrem Royal Family of Duayaw-Nkwanta Traditional Area in the Ahafo Region says the family rubbishes the ruling by Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II in connection with the chieftaincy dispute of the Traditional Area.
They also appealed to the police to strengthen the prevailing peace in the area, maintaining that the chieftaincy dispute remained unsolved and still pending before the Goaso High Court in the region.
Addressing a news conference at Duayaw-Nkwanta, Mr Ofori Adu, the Secretary to the Royal Family explained that the dispute was referred to the Asanteman, saying that the Tetetrem Royal Family was not satisfied with the ruling by the Asantehene.
Giving background to the rightful occupants of the throne, Mr Ofori Adu said, “Tetetrem Royal Family were among the Akan tribal groups that jammed up at Denkyira in the carly 14th Century.
They migrated to Northwestern part of Ashanti called Ahafo where they settled and developed the present town called Duayaw Nkwanta before the formation of the Ashanti Kingdom.
During the rebuilding of the Dilapidated buildings, four different ethnic groups of people came to Tetretem now called Duayaw Nkwanta to seek job as laborers, they were, Banda, Fulani, Bahule and Gruma people.
They were put together and called Awompi Family due to their high birth rate.
They settled with the Tetretem Royals for so many years and had the chance also to ascend the throne of Tetretem. They are now claiming to be the original Royals of Duayaw Nkwanta Stool.”
Their action has resulted in a long-standing Chieftaincy dispute which was sent to Otumfour Osei Tutu II (Asantehene) for mediation.
According to the Tetremtem royal family, the Asantehene set up a committee of enquiry to find out the true Royals of the land and to also find out the family in which Otumfour Osei Tutu I married.
After the Asantehene's mediation his decision has rather escalated tension and misunderstanding at Duayaw Nkwanta.
However, the Tetretem Royal Family says they disagreed with the decision of Asantehene for the following reasons:
- The terms of reference were put aside completely.
- After the committee's proceedings it was realized that their report was influenced by bribery and corruption.
- Otumfour declared that Duayaw Nkwanta Township belongs to him which was false.
- Otumfour's decision was influence by the fact that Tetretem Family will pay allegiance to Dormaa which is also false.
- The Awompi Family openly declared that though Tetretem Family are true Royals of Duayaw Nkwanta Stool, but they will buy the stool from the Asanteman Council.
“The Tetretem Family of Duayaw Nkwanta are law abiding and that we wish to inform the Awompi Family that they should not attempt to enstool a Chief at Duayaw Nkwanta. If they do, we shall also enstool our Chief. That, the Palace was built by Tetretem Royal Family, and all Blackened stools belong to Tetretem Family.”
On his part, Nana Osei Akyereko-Akwagyan, the Abusuapanin of the Tetetrem Royal Family said that the family prioritized peace and objected the ruling calling for a review. “We are calling on the Regional Security Council, The Municipal Security Council and the entire National Security Council to ensure that there is peace at Duayaw Nkwanta.”
Sompaonline.com/Bismarck Agyemang Opambour