Mediation Team In Bolgatanga Chieftaincy Dispute Is Impartial- House Of Chiefs

Naba Sigri Bewong, President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs,  has assured feuding parties in the recent chieftaincy dispute in Bolgatanga,  that the mediation team would remain impartial and objective with its work.

        He denied rumours that the House was taking sides in the on-going chieftaincy dispute that left five people,  including chiefs,  severely injured in a surprise cutlass attack some weeks back in the regional capital.

         This comes in the wake of media publications portraying the President of the House of Chiefs as supporting one of the feuding parties,  as clouds of uncertainty and tension continued to hang over for the next ruler of Bolgatanga ever since the late paramount chief of the area, Naba Martin Abilba Adongo the Third, passed away in 2013.

     The President of the House,  who was addressing a press conference in Bolgatanga to refute such allegations, indicated that a mediation team made up of the President and two members of the House of Chiefs and the Executive Secretary of the Regional Peace Council, had been constituted,  and was working towards bringing feuding factions in the Bolga Skin to a peaceful consensus.

         He described as untrue and unfortunate allegations that he had condemned the election of a new chief in Bolga,  and said “it is an attempt to further throw a wedge in the royal family.

       “I must emphasize that the mediation team led by me,  is impartial and objective in its work with the families,” the President said.

          Dr. Henry Seidu Danaa, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture who also addressed the conference,  said due to the serious dimension the chieftaincy dispute in Bolgatanga had assumed, there was the need for the media to be circumspect in their reportage.

          “Ghanaians are waiting to hear the answer to the question who becomes the next paramount chief of Bolga,  from the Regional House of Chiefs, the National House of Chiefs, or the Supreme Court of the Republic,  as the case may be. Permit me to make an appeal to the press that in reporting issues about chieftaincy, they contact the Houses of Chiefs,  or the Ministry for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs,” he stressed.

     He condemned a report in the Daily Guide of March 3, with the  caption “Bolga gets Chief,” as unfortunate  and rather speculative, as it came at a time there was misunderstanding and dispute over the succession to the Bolga Skin.

         Among dignitaries at the press conference were  Mr Daniel Syme, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Edward Ayagle, Municipal Chief Executive for Bolga, aznd the Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Simon Afeku.