Kumasi, June 27, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has cautioned the youth against their involvement in chieftaincy disputes and related issues.

He pointed out that the chieftaincy institution had its own structure and code of ethics to nominate or install a chief. "These principles must be adhered to and left in the hands of the queenmother, family head, elders and kingmakers," he added. The Asantehene reminded the youth that under no circumstance should they be motivated to get involved in these processes or turn themselves into kingmakers, since that was a recipe for confusion and violence which affected development.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call when arbitrating over the Goaso Traditional Area chieftaincy dispute at a meeting of Asanteman Council at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Thursday. The dispute which lasted for about nine years was finally settled on Thursday when Asantehene upheld a report that Nana Akwasi Bosompra who has been nominated qualified to be installed as Paramount Chief of Goaso after an in-depth investigations conducted by a committee set up to probe the issue.

Controversy surrounded the nomination of Nana Bosompra after some elders from Goaso challenged his eligibility to succeed Krotwiamansa Yaw Ampofo Agyei who abdicated arguing that he was not a royal. However, the committee's investigations proved that the nominee was a true royal and qualified since he was within the chieftaincy lineage The Asantehene admonished feuding factions in the area to strive to let peace prevail now that the impasse had been settled amicably to help facilitate development in the area. He reiterated his call on chiefs to be proactive in protecting water bodies and forest reserves. The Asantehene asked them to work hard to halt the illegal felling of trees and selling of lands along river bodies to conserve the country's eco-system.