Asantehene closes down court

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,Asantehene, has dissolved indefinitely the Asantehemaa court, following allegations of corruption leveled against some of the chiefs that arbitrate cases. The announcement was made by the Asantehene, on Tuesday when he visited the court, and ordered the members to vacate with immediate effect.

A Manhyia Palace source told the Ghanaian Times here, that the Asantehene has also ordered the secretariat to transfer all cases, since the new queen mother, Nana Ama Konadu, took over the court, to his office. It is not immediately known what prompted the action, but sources have attributed the action to alleged corruption among the arbitrators of the court.

The court is presided over by the Asantehemaa, comprising two
divisions, Kotinso and Nkonson, with queen mothers and chiefs as members. It sits on Tuesdays and Thursdays and settles disputes on social issues, involving marriages, quarrels, curses and cheats among others.

According to the source the Asantehene would bring a team of chiefs he trusts to continue running the court at the appropriate time, adding, that any chief who would sit at the court without his authorisation would be arrested. Meanwhile, the Asafohene, Acheamfour Kwame Akowuah II, has been suspended from attending Manhyia traditional meetings.

His traditional roles in the Asante Kingdom have also been suspended over his role in handling some cases in the palace which Otumfuo is reportedly not com- fortable with. This development has created fear among chiefs who have not been cleared to handle chieftaincy and land litigation issues in the region.

The Asante Youth Association (AYA) has commended Otumfuo for the bold step saying, “Members of the Asante Youth Association are very grateful to Otumfuo for the bold step.” The General Secretary of the association, Mr TweneboaKodua, in a chat with the GhanaianTimes, observed that Manhyia has over the years demonstrated fairness in terms of rendering justice and “that is the reason the kingdom has been able to withstand all generations”.

He commended the Asantehene for the action saying, “It re-enforces the confidence we have in Manhyia and the justice that we always look for.” “We commend the king for such a bold decision, this is a decision that involves his “abrempon,” so it is not a small issue. For the King to take such a decision to restore the confidence in the court we commend him and we are most grateful and we are proud of it,” he indicated.

FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI