2 CHIEFS SMOKE PEACE PIPE (Page 29)

Story: Samuel Duodu, Nkoranza


THE Chief of Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Awiti Kuffuor, has commended the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom 1V, for amicably resolving a seven-year-old land dispute between him and the Kyeremankumahene, Nana Effa Guarkro. This was in connection with who was the rightful caretaker of the Nkoranza stool lands in Kintampo.
Nana Kuffuor also thanked the Nkoranzahene for  rescinding his earlier decision to cede his part of the Nkoranza stool lands at Kintampo to the Kyeremankumahene back to him (Kintampohene) as the caretaker, which had eased the tension in the area.
Nana Kuffuor made the commendation when he called on the Nkoranzahene at his palace to express his appreciation of his ruling on the disputed land at Kintampo and restoring his right of ownership to the land.
As a sign of thanksgiving, Nana Kuffuor presented two bottles of Schnapps, two big rams and GH¢200 to the Nkoranzahene and the Nkoranza Traditional Council.
The Nkoranzahene owns about two-thirds of the Kintampo lands with the remaining one-third portion of the land belonging to the Mo Traditional Council.
He ceded his portion of the land to the Kyeremankumahene, when the Kintampohene took the matter to court in 2001, without seeking redress from the Nkoranzahene.
Some eminent religious leaders in the area, led by Venerable Peter Sakyi, an Anglican Priest, amicably settled the land dispute out of court last year, through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), following settlement agreement by all the parties involved.
In view of the decision, the Nkoranzahene withdrew a letter he earlier sent to the Statutory Planning Committee of the Kintampo District Assembly, giving the right of ownership of the land to the Kyeremankumahene.
Nana Kuffuor, who was accompanied by his supporters to the Nkoranzahene’s palace, lauded the Omanhene for the way and manner he went about the issue, and restoring his status as the caretaker chief of the land.
He pledged that with the prevailing peace in the area, he would hold the land in trust for the people and the Nkoranza Traditional Council.
In his response, Nana Kudom, who is also the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, urged the people involved in the dispute to bury their differences and live in peace to enhance the progress of the area.
He reiterated his earlier decision to revert the right of ownership of the disputed land to the Kintampohene, saying that the Kyeremankumahene was not the sole caretaker of the land in question for the Nkoranzahene.
“To be precise, Nana Kyeremankumahene shares common boundary to the North with Yefrihene, to the West with Mohene by the old Trans-sahara root. To the east, he shares the boundary with Dadiesehene and to the south with Nana Kokumahene at the Barimi Stream at Kintampo,” he added.
Nana Kudom stated that there was no paramount chief in Kintampo, adding that he was the overlord of the Nkoranza stool lands in Kintampo and the Kintampohene was a caretaker chief.