Kumasi, March 12, GNA - The Asante Congress has called on the Inspector General of Police, to thoroughly investigate the recent bloody clashes at Tuobodom and bring to justice those whose criminal conduct sparked off the violence.

The congress said those who acted criminally in the alleged attack on the convoy of the Omanhene of Techiman and the kidnapping of the Omanhene of Tuobodom should be punished.

At a press conference in Kumasi on Thursday, the Spokesperson of the group, Mr Charles Wilberforce Nuako also invited all peace-loving Ghanaians to show interest in the protracted Techiman-Tuobodom chieftaincy dispute to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. Three people were shot dead and four others including a policeman critically wounded when two nearby communities in the Brong Ahafo Region fought a gun battle on Friday, March 5. The Congress, dedicated to the unity and development of the Asante Kingdom (Asanteman), called for an end to what it said was the harassment of chiefs in the Tano Subin area, owing allegiance to the Asantehene.

These include traditional leaders of Offuman, Tanoboase, Buoyam, Tanoso and Tuobodom.

The late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II elevated the five stools to paramount status in 1996 but the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs is yet to admit these chiefs to the house. They chided the House and said its decision to set up a Research Committee to scrutinise paramount chiefs from the region, who swear the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene before considering admitting them was illegitimate and a breach of the 1992 Constitution. "Under Article 274 of the Constitution, it is not part of their functions to vet chiefs who have been elevated in accordance with customary law and usage," Mr Nuako said.

The congress therefore asked the house to act with urgency to welcome the elevated chiefs into its fold.

The group, citing historical documents and legal defeats suffered by the Techimanhene over claims of ownership of the Tano Subin towns, counselled against what they alleged were distortions and attempts by the Omanhene of Techiman to re-write history. They said it was important all acts of provocation were ceased.