Bonwire (Ash), Aug 5, GNA - Nana Nyarko Frimpomaah, Queenmother of Bonwire, and seven other sub-chiefs of the community have denied media reports that one Nana Kwakye arrested by the Police Panthers Unit for visa fraud is the Bonwirehene.

In statement the chiefs said it is untrue that the alleged fraudster, Nana Kwakye, is the Chief of Bonwire.

"We unequivocally state that he is unknown to the Okuru-Asante-Bobie Stool and never in our history has anyone bearing the name of Kwakye ascended our stool."

The chiefs said, "we do not want to believe that the suspect at any point during his arrest and interrogation by the police presented himself as Bonwirehene, but if indeed, he did, then he is an impostor."

They said the truth of their assertion could be verified from both the Asanteman Council and the Ejisu Traditional Council.

"If the reporter who filed the news item had taken some trouble to do some checks the chiefs, elders and the entire Bonwire community would have been spared the embarrassment, pain and irreparable damage caused by the publication."

They said in as much as they appreciated efforts by the media to expose fraudsters and miscreants in the society, "we think that it will do a lot of credit to Ghanaian journalism if journalists ensure that they always get their facts correct and properly cross checked before they rush to the print."

They said Bonwire presently has chief-elect in the person of Nana Bobie Ansah 11, who is waiting to go through the final process of enstoolment.

His nomination and endorsement by the kingmakers followed the destoolment of Ohenenana Kwaku Duah after his 18 years reign by Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, Asantehene, for insubordination last year. "One therefore, wonders at which point in time the said Nana Kwakye became the Bonwirehene."

The chiefs are demanding an unqualified apology from the newspaper for the huge embarrassment caused to the Bonwire Stool and the entire community.