Trouble Looms Ahead of Osu-Homowo …As legitimacy of Osu Mantse Questioned In spite of the fervent preparation towards this year’s Homowo celebration by the chiefs and people of Osu this week, a group in the area has been questioning the legitimacy of the popularly-known traditional chief, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI. The group is, however, vouching for one Nii Nortey Owuo III as the legitimate Osu Manste since December 29, 1984, and still is. Members of the group refuted allegations that their choice, Nii Nortey Owuo III has been destooled in any competent Chieftaincy Tribunal whatsoever. It alleged that Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona-Owoo, known in private life as Michael Okwei Kinka Dowuona-Owoo, as the Chief, imposed by assistance of people of Ga Mashie, Accra, and some elements in high political positions in the country. This member of the group said, made Nii Osu arrogating to himself the position of Osu Mantse, with additional active connivance of individuals at the Ga Traditional Council, the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs at Dodowa, and the National House of Chiefs, Manhyia, Kumasi (NHC). In a statement issued in Accra, by the Heads of the four quarters of Osu, viz, Kinka we, Ashante, Alata and Anorhor; the Heads of the two Ruling Houses of Osu, includes Owuo We and Dowuona We; the Heads of the four Dzaase Houses of Kinka we, the only house with powers of attorney to enstool and destool Osu Mantse; i.e. Adukpono We, Teinor We, Odartey Sro and Adjuwate, also stated that Nii Nortey Owuo III is still the recognized Osu Mantse. The agitating group, however, concede the claims of those from the above-mentioned houses, and explained that in 1986, the PNDC Government, by 23 Local Government bulletin, p.158 dated 15th August 1986, withdrew its recognition of Nii Nortey Owuo III. This deprived him (Nii Nortey Owuo III’s) of his statutory functions as Osu Mantse, but they claimed he still leaves intact his customary status and functions as Osu Mantse. This made them believe Nii Nortey Owuo III was not destooled and is still the Osu Mantse, and not the current chief, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI. The statement further alleged that Nii Nortey III’s legitimacy was confirmed earlier by the Court of Appeal on 18 February 2005, in Re Osu Stool (2003-2005) 1GLR 274 and later by the Supreme Court of Ghana on 17 May 2006, in Re Osu Stool v Unilever Ghana Ltd (Nii Nortey Owuo intervener) (2005-2006) SCGLR 628. According to the statement amongst many other statements, in spite of all the restrictive provisions spelt out in the Chieftaincy Act,1971, (Act 370), the National House of Chiefs, (NHC) disregarded the rules of natural justice, without regard to Art 23 and Art 296 of the 1992 Constitution to destool Nii Nortey Owuo III. And the NHC found it fit to cancel his name, which has been on the National Register of Chiefs since 1986 and inserted the name of Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona-Owoo VI, who has been enstooled as Osu Mantse customarily by the kingmakers of Osu, the statement alleged. The acclaimed houses said they challenged the current Osu Mantse, Nii Dowuona-Owoo VI to show any proof that Nii Nortey Owuo III has been destooled at one time or another, which he failed.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 08:11:16 +0000
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