There is an uneasy calm at Botoku in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region, where two factions that have been fighting over the stool since the demise of the Paramount Chief, Togbe Tamtia (V) twenty years ago, have renewed their threats.
The two clans; Kledzasi and Kpale, have been issuing threats after one served notice of a coronation of a paramount chief on Saturday.
The Kpale, who believe the stool belongs to them have been challenging the eligibility of the said person to be installed.
Addressing the media in Ho on Tuesday, a man who introduced himself as the Manklado or the Custodian Chief and Ag. President of the Traditional Council said the Kledzasi are not the right heirs to the throne as being presented.
“After the death of Togbe Tamtia V, the Kledjasi Clan, which claimed the Paramount Stool belonged to them, but was gifted to the Kpale Clan through dubious means, managed to take custody of the stool. This issue has been pending before the traditional council to find the most peaceful ways of resolving same when the Kledjasi Clan which has been uncooperative decided to install a Paramount Chief,” he said.
He said he declined to grant his approval for the installation when he was contacted, and that any attempt to crown an “imposter” as the Paramount Chief would disturb the peace currently being enjoyed by the people.
He therefore warned that people who have been invited to the occasion on Saturday against attending as tension heightens in the area.
“We wish to advise the general public and all guests, that there is total state of confusion in Botoku and we cannot guarantee the safety of the members of the public who may want to honour the invitation of the Kleddzasi Clan to install a Paramount Chief.”
However, when Citi News contacted the Kledzasi Clan’s choice for the paramountcy, Nelson Gbadagba, he discounted the claims by the Mankrado, adding that the Mankrado is among the few people who are challenging his coronation.
“98 percent of the Citizens of Botoku are in support of my coronation. For 14 years without Paramount Chief has been hell and made this town lawless” he said.
The Ag. Stool Secretary of the Kledzasi Clan, Julius Dzomeku, added that “the stool was ours 500 years ago until 100 years ago we rented it out to the Kpale Clan since we were fed up with Chieftaincy. But after the demise of the then Paramount Chief, Togbe Tamtia V, we realized the Kpale’s were not installing any successor. We only came to take what belonged to us.”
Citi News has gathered that the two factions are stocking weapons for an imminent clash.
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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
