The National House of Chiefs (NHC) has come under serious criticism for allegedly refusing to register the Paramount Chiefs of Tano-Boase, Tanoso, Buoyem and Tuobodom in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
According to the chiefs, the NHC was dilly-dallying with the registration of their names in the registrar, after being elevated to the status of paramountcies since December 12, 1996, by the occupant of the Golden Stool, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who they owe allegiance to.
A statement issued in Sunyani recently by the Solicitor for the aggrieved chiefs, Nana Obiri Boahen, described it as unfair, unacceptable and unjust for the National House of Chiefs to deny his clients’ registration into the registrar.
According to the statement, due to the refusal of the NHC to registrar the four paramount chiefs in their Registrar, they had never been invited to sit with their colleague paramount chiefs in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
“It must be put on record that the right to elevate the Buoyem, Tuobodom, Tanoso and Tano-Boase Stools to the status of Paramoutcy is the prerogative of the Asantehene, as the occupant of the Golden Stool, and nobody else,” the statement noted.
The chiefs therefore submitted that if on or before the end of October 2009, the findings of the Committee set up by the National House of Chiefs, and chaired by Na (Prof.) J.S Nabila Wulugu Naba, are not ‘relayed’ to them, they would seek redress in court.
The irate chiefs supported their protest with copies of two letters, one of which was signed for and on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Asanteman Council, by Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, Paramount Chief of Mampong, dated February 26, 2008, under the caption, “Notice of Elevation to the Status of Paramountcy in respect of Certain Chiefs in Brong-Ahafo Region, who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool of Asante.”
In the said letter, it was revealed that at a meeting of the Asanteman Council, presided over by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, held on Monday February 18, 2008, it came to light that the following chiefs, who owe allegiance to the Asantehene, and who were elevated to the status of Paramountcy on various dates, have as not yet had their names registered as such in the National Registrar of Chiefs.
The affected chiefs, Nana Oduro Boama of Tanoboase, Nana Kwaku Yiadom Boakye of Tanoso, Okomafo Dwamena Akenten IV of Buoyem and Nana Amo Gyeabour (deceased) of Tuobodom, were elevated on December 12, 1996, whilst Nana Osei Kofi Abiri of Kenyasi No.1, was elevated on September 12, 2005.
The letter indicated that available records show that Chieftaincy Declaration Forms (CDF) in respect of the said chiefs, were submitted to the National House of Chiefs by the Kumasi Traditional Council, to which they were subservient, through the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, as far back as 1996.
The letter noted that to date, it appears the National House of Chiefs, acting upon an alleged protest by the late Osabarima Dotobibi Tehyia-Ameyaw II, Techimanhene, has not registered in the National Registrar of Chiefs, the names of the chiefs from the Tano Subin area, as well as the Kenyase No.1 chiefs.
According to the letter, the undue delay in the processing and registration of the names of the paramount chiefs, as required by law, is causing great embarrassment, not only to the paramount chiefs concerned, but Asanteman as a whole.
The Asanteman Council stated that in order to abate the embarrassment, and again, in order for the National House of Chiefs to be seen to be performing its statutory function, it wishes to urge the House to show concern, and cause the names of the chiefs to be duly registered.
