The Paramount Chief of Ahanta Traditional Area, Nana Baidoe Bonsu XVI, has banned the chief of Apowa, Nana Amoa Gyebu XVI from celebrating this year's Kundum festival.

This was contained in a press statement issued in Takoradi on Thursday and signed by the Registrar of Ahanta Taditional Council, Mr. Samuel Bosomtwi on behalf of the paramount chief.

The statement also banned Apowa chief from referring any dispute to the paramountcy for adjudication. More so, the chief and his supporters have also been banned from attending any meeting called by the paramount chief.

It said the Apowa chief and his supporters were banned from entering the palace of the paramountcy to perform any traditional rites.

The statement alleged that the sub-chief had shown gross disrespect and insubordination towards the paramount chief, Nana Baidoo Bonsu hence the action instituted against him.

It said if the Apowa chief defiles the directive, the great oath of Ahanta Traditional Area would be invoked on him.

But in a quick rebuttal, the Secretary to the chief of Apowa, Nuredeen Azingua, said the paramount chief has no right to ban the chief of Apowa from celebrating Kundum since the festival does not belong to him.

He said the people of Apowa would defy the paramount chief's directive and celebrate the Kumdum festival this year, damn any consequences.

There had been a long-age dispute between the Ahanta Paramountcy and the chief of Apowa over the sale of lands by the latter without recourse to the paramountcy.**