A seemingly scary ethnic conflict akin to the devastating tribal conflicts in the northern part of the country is looming in the Krachi West District of the Volta Region, the Today newspaper has gathered.
This follows the arrest of some Kokomba indigenes by the Paramount Chief of Kete Krachi, Nana Mprah Besemuna III.The crime of the Kokombas, according to a close confidant of the paramount chief, is that they refused to donate cows for the celebration of this year’s Denteh Akwambo Festival. ‘Today’ was reliably informed that the paramount chief had ordered residents who did not hail from the town but had been living in the town for the past years to donate cows towards the celebration of the festival.
The move was, however, seen by the small fraction of Kokombas as an attempt by Nana Mprah Besemuna to milk them of their finances.
The Kokombas, Today learnt, therefore disregarded the chief’s order and refused to donate the cows.
Infuriated by the action of the Kokombas, Nana Mprah Besemuna reportedly called for their arrest. The development has been branded by sympathizers of the affected families as an “open show of power” by Nana Besemuna and his elders.
Investigations by Today revealed that the Kokombas, who were arrested, have been summoned to appear before the Krachie West District Court to explain their actions with concrete reasons or face further punishment.
Family members of the victims also decried the chief’s action and alleged that as a result of his high connections in the police the chief has assumed total control in the matter.
The group indicated that the Kete Krachie paramount chief is abusing power to enrich himself.
Source: Today