Axim Chiefs warn Nsein Chief over unlawful invasion

• Posted on October 10, 2022October 10, 2022
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Awulae Adjefi Kwame II, Paramount Chief of Nsein Traditional Council, situated in the Nzema East Municipal of the Western Region, has been admonished by the Chiefs of Axim Traditional Council to desist his illegal and relentless invasion of Axim territory.

The Nsein Chief’s covert measures to assert control over the middle region of the Lower Axim known as Otupai, in the opinion of the chiefs, are foolish and unwarranted and should be handled with the highest contempt.

The Otupai Division of Lower Axim (the central portion of Lower Axim), which is under the control of the Awuza Family of Otupai Lower Axim, has been claimed by the Paramount Chief of Nsein Traditional Council as belonging to Nsein jurisdiction for almost 50 years.

This has led to a number of court battles, with the Awuza Family of Otupai winning one after arguing that they were not required to serve on the Nsein Traditional Council and that the Nsein Chief’s appeals had all been rejected by the courts.

Awulae Attibrukusu III, the president of the Axim Traditional Council, expressed his displeasure with his colleague Nsein Chief’s ongoing attempt to undermine the peace and unity of the people of Axim at a joint press conference held by the Otupai Division, the Upper and Lower Axim Traditional Areas, and the Axim Traditional Council on Friday, October 7, 2022 in Axim.

He believes that the Nsein Chief’s use of all illegal means to undermine Axim’s plans for the people’s development and resort to litigation is a waste of time and resources, and he will no longer engage him on that level as the chiefs and people are ready to advocate for their improved standard of living.

“We are sick and tired of unnecessary and unattainable litigation and prefer to use our resources and time to fight for developmental projects in our traditional area, such as renovating the Axim Government Hospital, which, interestingly, does not serve the people of Axim but the people of Nzema East, which includes the Nsein Traditional Area,” Awulae Attibrukusu III stated.

“We strongly urge the relevant authorities, particularly the National Security Council and other state security agencies, to intervene in this matter as soon as possible to avert any violence or calamity, as things can quickly spiral out of control if care is not taken.”

The former vice president of the National House of Chiefs urged Awulae Agyefi II to consult the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759. He stated that the Nsein Chief has no right or authority to install a chief where there is already a chief, and that his action is an intentional and persistent attempt to incite strife, litigation, and confusion among the populace as well as violence.

Awulae Adjefi Kwame II, one of Nsein’s nine chiefs, is the sole one claiming to be the lord of Otupai, according to Nana Awuza III, Divisional Chief of Otupai in Lower Axim Traditional Area, who denied that his division falls under Nsein.

“It must be stated that the Otupai Division has never served under Nsein since its inception, and we dare the Nsein Chief to produce evidence to prove otherwise, and if he is able to do so, we will return to him; and we know he has no documentation to back his bogus claim.”

“We are sick and tired of court litigation and are now prepared to face him with our blood and sweat, and if he, the chief of Nsein, doesn’t know the meaning of Otupai, which is War’ and we will retaliate if he continues with his needless demand.”

Nana Awuza made known

He expressed his displeasure with the Nsein Chief’s plot to conspire with some chiefs at the Western Regional House of Chiefs and the National House of Chiefs to secretly gazette an unknown chief whom the Nsein Chief claimed to have personally selected from the Awuza Family, as well as using the phrase “Lower Town Axim and Nsein Traditional Council” in his official documents.

“It is now clear that all of his lost legal proceedings between we, the Awuza Family, over claim of lordship of Otupai Division of Lower Axim have gone in vain for him, and thus resort to going behind to use some of his cronies at the National House of Chiefs to overturn and disregard a court of competent jurisdiction’s rule, which we shall not grant him (Nsein Chief) the audience and attention and has no business meddling in Awuza family affairs.

Nana Awuza III, the Sanahene of Lower Axim Traditional, believes that “rather than using his experience as the supposed longest serving paramount chief of the western region to impact positively on up-and-coming traditional rulers, the Nsein Chief should spend his entire lifetime litigating and inciting violence.”

“The Awuza Family of Otupai of Lower Axim unanimously nominated, coronated, and sworn in Nana Awuza III as their only leader and chief of the division in 2008, and any other self-imposed chief being handpicked by the Nsein Chief is alien to the family, and his action may lead to bloodshed if the National Security, President of the Republic, Chieftaincy Ministry does not intervene.”

Source: Lower Axim Traditional Council