Drobo (B/A), July 24, GNA - Beyeeman Bosea Gyinantwi 1V, Omanhene of Drobo Traditional Area, has called for peaceful co-existence among his chiefs and peoples and those of Japekrom Traditional Area. Addressing a press conference attended by the chiefs, queens and a large number of his people at Drobo, the Omanhene said despite a Sunyani High Court ruling on June 17 that should have put to rest a bitter land dispute between the two sides, "the relationship between us is tense." "As peoples, disputes are bound to exist between us but such disputes are not beyond the law. We are committed to subject ourselves before the laws of Ghana", he said.

Beyeeman Gyinantwi said if the people of Japekrom would also make similar commitment to subject themselves to the laws of Ghana, which had made adequate provision for the resolution of conflicts and disputes, "we do not foresee any circumstance that could erupt into something else."

The chief said the judgment of the Sunyani high court presided by Justice Emmanuel Assan "declared the Drobo stool as owner of the disputed land referred to as Plot No. 42 Block C. Japekrom Traditional Council claimed the land over which the people of Drobo currently occupy. This claim was not determined in Japekrom's favour". He said the press conference was to deny an earlier claim by Nana Amoa Aturu Nkonkonkyia 11, Omanhene of Japekrom at another press conference that the court had ruled in his favour.

Beyeeman Gyinatwi advised his people to "ignore the directive that they should report to Japekrom Traditional Council for the purpose of rectifying land documents. The Drobo Stool has over the years been the rightful owner to grant land. The judgment (of the court) did not change this. There is therefore no legal basis for the directive by the Japekrom Traditional Council and must be ignored". Nana Nkonkonkyia had at his press conference on June 24 declared that the judgment was in his favour and urged people who allegedly acquired Japekrom stool lands illegally to consult his traditional council for the rectification of their documents. Beyeeman Gyinantwi said: "We have read the judgment of this suit carefully. We have also had the opportunity to read the press release of the Japekrom Traditional Council. The press release by the Japekrom Traditional Council contains untruths thereby creating a wrong impression.

"We find it inappropriate and a bad precedent to allow citizens of this country to thwart decisions, especially in chieftaincy matters made by our honourable courts to their advantage. "Chieftaincy issues in our country are delicate matters and need to be handled with extreme care. It is the responsibility of chiefs and traditional councils to communicate accurately to our people decisions made by our courts concerning chieftaincy issues to avoid unnecessary disputes among our peoples and rather promote peace and development", Beyeeman Gyinantwi said.

He said if the court in its judgment accepted that the people of Drobo were part of the people of Bono Kingdom that was left in Ghana and also the people of Bono Kingdom migrated from Akwamu, then the effect of its decision is that we (the people of Drobo) migrated from Akwamu and not from Wenchi as refugees as suggested by the Japekrom Traditional Council.

The Omanhene announced that the traditional council had set up a customary land secretariat to register all plots of Drobo stool lands acquired by individuals or organisations for development and urged all interested persons to do so. A number of the chiefs and queens present appealed to the people to exercise patience and avoid actions that would create chaos and tension in the area.

Nana Amo Yeboah Asuamah, Gyasehene, asked them to show love and unity and not to hesitate to approach chiefs for explanations on any issues. Nana Adjoa Kyeraa, Kyidomhemaa, advised especially the women to support the traditional council to collaborate effectively with the district assembly to initiate more development projects in the area.