Aflao Chieftaincy Brouhaha Gets Murkier�

Elders and kingmakers of Afla Stool who recently installed Torgbui Awunor Detu 1X as chief of Aflao in the Volta Region, have accused the police of conspiring with their opponents to arrest and detain their chief.

According to the spokesperson of the remanded Chief, Torgbui Tengey Sabbah V, it was complete falsehood that there is a rival chief at Aflao.

�There is no rival chief at Aflao as they were told. The existence of Afla stool has been there for years. Every document in the archives would prove to the whole world that Torgbui Awunor is not contesting any chief. He is the legitimate chief of Afla stool,� he said.

In a press statement released yesterday, Torgbui Tengey Sabbah V, who is a also a divisional chief of Aflao, said the injustice being perpetrated against their chief should be stopped.

�They have infringed upon the rights of our chief and he must be released with immediate effect. How can they be working upon the instructions and orders of others? Can�t they cross-check that Torgbui is not a rival chief in Aflao Township,� he asked.

�We are peacemakers and we love peace. If we have offended the law, that would have been a different story and in any case, is there a law in this country that prevents an indigene from visiting his or her hometown?

Torgbui Sabbah further dismissed allegations that Torgbui Awunor Detu disregarded an injunction placed on him restraining him from doing anything into town to spark controversy.

�This is another blatant lie. Torgbui was in Tema and had only through authorities requested for a police protection since his life was in danger. As a law abiding citizens, we would not do anything untoward,� he said.

�We have noted with utmost dismay and disbelief that the police command allowing themselves to be misinformed by ill-intent people within the Aflao State. It is unfortunate that they woefully failed to at least cross check facts and relevant documents before taking action on matters that could inflame passion.

Their posturing to blatantly compromise the neutrality, objectivity and sanctity of the police administration is deeply worrying. Who says somebody is contesting legitimacy of Torgbui Fiti? Who says the people of Anlo traditional council have installed another chief to displace Fiti? Has the new chief taken over the stool of Torgbui Fiti?

According to the chiefs, if the extensive investigative skills of the police were used, they would have noticed that Afla stool is not a new stool. It has been in existence for years. �It is our heritage. It is our legacy and the fact that the stool has no chief for some years now, does not mean that it has been scrapped.

It would be recalled that a High Court in Ho in the Volta Region, has remanded into Police custody, the claimant of the Aflao stool, Togbui Afla Awunor Detu IX. Torgbui Afla Detu and five others were arrested by the Police on Thursday after they reportedly defied Police orders not to enter the town after security intelligence revealed his actions could spark violence.

The Police put the chief before court on Friday and was charged on two counts of offensive conduct, organizing public event without recourse to the Public Order Act. Presiding judge Patrick Baaye said his decision to remand the chief into Police custody is for the safety of the accused and the people of Aflao.

Source: The Chronicle