“WE WANT TO BE ONE CLAN AGAIN” — LOWEḰPONOR OKUBEN WEM APPEALS TO GREAT NINGO PARAMOUNT CHIEF

By: Samuel Asamoah 

Paramount Chief of Great Ningo, Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, has pledged to intervene in an internal dispute within the Loweḱponor Okuben Wem and help broker a peaceful resolution.

He has also called on the various clans within the Ningo Traditional Area to unite behind his leadership to promote peace and accelerate development in the area.

Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII made the commitment when the Loweḱponor Okuben Wem formally welcomed him to the Paramount Stool of Great Ningo.

Speaking on behalf of the clan, Asafoatse Ashalley Kweitsu Okuben IV described the return of a Paramount Chief after almost 40 years as a historic moment and an opportunity for a new beginning anchored on unity, peace, consultation and development.

He assured the Paramount Chief that the Loweḱponor Okuben Wem recognised his authority and was prepared to work with him and his elders to advance the interests of the traditional area.

However, he used the occasion to draw attention to a longstanding dispute among the five gates of the clan.

According to Asafoatse Ashalley Kweitsu Okuben IV, the five gates are expected to coexist as one family, but tensions have emerged following claims by one of the gates to lands considered by the wider clan to belong to it.

He said the disagreement had affected the clan’s ability to organise meetings, select elders to represent it and collectively plan development initiatives.

Rather than focusing on development and protecting the interests of future generations, he said, members had become divided over issues that could be resolved through dialogue and established traditional processes.

“Nene, we do not want this situation to continue. We are not bringing this matter to you because we want you to take sides. We are bringing it to you because we need peace,” Asafoatse Ashalley Kweitsu Okuben IV said.

He appealed to Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII and his elders to facilitate a traditional and peaceful resolution of the dispute.

He called for all five gates to be brought to the same table, with every side given an opportunity to be heard and the history and traditions of the clan carefully considered in finding a lasting solution.

“Our desire is simple: we want to be one clan again,” he said.

He said restoring unity would enable the clan to hold its meetings peacefully, select its elders, plan development projects and protect the interests of generations yet unborn.

PARAMOUNT CHIEF PLEDGES INTERVENTION

Responding to the appeal, Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII pledged to intervene and work towards resolving the dispute.

He called on the various clans within the Ningo Traditional Area to put aside divisions and unite behind his leadership to create the peace and stability required for development.

The Paramount Chief stressed that meaningful development of the Ningo Traditional Area would require cooperation among the traditional leadership, clans and the people.

He urged the people to embrace dialogue and peaceful approaches to resolving disputes, warning against allowing disagreements to deepen divisions within the traditional area.

The Loweḱponor Okuben Wem subsequently reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Paramount Chief and encouraging its members to respect traditional processes in resolving their differences.

Asafoatse Ashalley Kweitsu Okuben IV said the clan had approached the Paramount Chief “with respect and an open heart” and expressed confidence that his leadership, coupled with patience and consultation, could help address the challenges confronting the clan and the wider traditional area.

The clan expressed hope that the reign of Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII would usher in a new era of unity, peace, fairness and development in Great Ningo.

After almost four decades without a Paramount Chief, the Loweḱponor Okuben Wem believes the restoration of central traditional leadership presents an opportunity for the people of Ningo to resolve longstanding disputes and work collectively towards the development of the traditional area.