A Sunyani High Court three (3) presided over by Justice Patrick Bayeh has convicted seven persons including some prominent chiefs over a raging chieftaincy dispute involving the Mo Traditional Council.

The convicts which include three chiefs, one kingmaker and three others were found guilty of contempt of the court and subsequently handed a 20-day jail term each by the court.

Among the contemnors include; Opanin Kwadwo Dagbi , Abusuapanin of Leera Royal Family in Kintampo, Nana Adjei Adinkra II, Krontihene of MO Traditional Council, Nana Bisakwan II Benkumhene of MO Traditional Council, Nana Tebalakala, Gyaasehene of MO Traditional Council , Sampson Adre , a Teacher at Techiman, Opanin George Nsiah a resident of Kintampo, Anthony Saahene, a resident of New Longoro and Nana Akwasi Gyimah III , Akyeamehene of the area.

According to the facts of the case as presented to the court, Nana Dankwah alias Donkor the Applicant who was installed Omanhene was challenged in court but whilst the matter was still pending, the accused persons went ahead to install Sampson Adre , as the new Omanhene.

Nana Kwaku Dankwa of the Dankwa Royal Family of Mo and strong contender for the vacant Mo paramount chief slot which has been idle since 1999, therefore instituted a writ against the eight persons for exhibiting gross disrespect for the law and also exhibited a conduct which exposes the Administration Of Justice to public ridicule by defying the court orders and enskinning one Mr. Sampson Adre – a tutor as the new Omanhene of the Mo Traditional Area.

He demanded that Justice should permeate and the right sanctions be applied on those personalities who masterminded the performance of the customary functions associated with the enskinnment, the accused claimed they had the legitimate right to perform the customary rites and had indicated that they are unfancied by the threats of contempt.

The accused persons were the very people who initiated a legal tussle against Nana Kwaku Dankwa moments after he was enskinned as the new Omanhene of Mo Traditional Area in 2014 at The Judicial Committee Of the Brong Ahafo Regional House Of Chiefs but when the case was still pending, they turned round to enskin another candidate as the new Omanhene, hence the contempt against the eight persons.

The court accordingly sentenced the chiefs after several months of hearing observing that they were indeed guilty as charged and were whisked to the Sunyani prison to begin their respective jail terms.

Meanwhile, Nnaa Tebalakala, the Gyaasehene was out of Jurisdiction so was not served but Mr George Nsiah has been in court throughout proceedings unceremoniously left for Canada prior to the ruling.