Prof. Bernard Nii Nortey Botchway
The Osu Kinka We Dzaase (Kingmakers) and the Heads of the two Royal Families in Osu, the Owuo and Dowuona Families have in a petition denied claims that one Bernard Nii Nortey Botchway a.k.a. Nortse Nii Nortey Owuo IV has been enstooled Paramount Chief of Osu.
The Kinka We Dzaase (Kingmakers) represented by the Head of the Dzaase, Nii Saban Atsen VII, the Head of the Owuo We Royal Family, Edward Nortey Noi and the Head of the Dowuona Royal Family, William Nortey Dowuona, denounced the said Bernard Nii Nortey Botchway in a petition to the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs.
The petitioners through their Counsel, Kwame Fosu Gyeabour of Fosu – Gyeabour & Co on 7th day of February, 2022 filed a motion on notice restraining Nii Nortey Adumua IV, David Lantei Odartey and Professor Bernard Botchway from parading themselves as Dzasetse, Atofotse and Osu Mantse respectively of the Osu Traditional Council.
The petitioners have also asked the National House of Chiefs, in a separate letter, not to entertain the respondents in any form or shape during the pendency of their petition.
The petitioners contend that, upon the death of the substantive Osu Mantse, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, the Osu Kinka We Dazaase a appointed Nii Ako Nortei IV (Osu Mankralo) to act as Osu Mantse who sadly also passed on for which the Dazaase again appointed Nuumo Noi Osikan III (Osu Klottey Wulomo) to act as Osu Mantse till a substantive OsuMantse is appointed.
They said, the respondents falsified a letter head of the Dzase and wrote to the District Commander, claiming to be representing the Osu Kinka We Dzaase informing the Police about respondents’ intention to enstool a new Osu Mantse.
According to the Kingmakers, the respondents subsequently claimed to have enstooled the said Prof. Botchway as Osu Mantse without the involvement of the Osu Klotey Wulomo and the Owuo We Royal Family, Amantra, Osu.
They said, not only did the purported enstoolment exclude key personalities, but it was done outside the Owuo Royal Family House in breach of customs and traditions of the people of Osu.
According to the petitioners, a certain David Ashong, who held himself as Osu Mantse (under the guise of the stool name, Nii Nortey Owuo III) while the late Paramount Chief was alive, claimed to have abdicated the stool to Prof. Bernard.
The petitioners said there are two (2) Royal Houses in Osu namely; Owuo We and Kinka We between which the occupants of the Stool alternates.
According to the Kingmakers, the late Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI was enstooled from Kinka We Royal Family and that it is the turn of the Owuo We Family to present a candidate to the Dzaase for his enstoolment as the OsuMantse.
They stated that the Owuo Royal has not selected the said Prof. Bernard Botchway to be enstooled as Osu Mantse.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration that it is only the Osu Kinka We Dzaase led by the Dzaasetse of Osu which is the legitimate body of Kingmakers of Osu that could request a candidate from the appropriate Royal House, select and enstool Osu Mantse.
They are also seeking a declaration that Nii Nortey Adumua IV, and David Lantei Odartey have no capacities to enstool the said Prof. Botchway or any person as Osu Mantse.
Further, they want an order setting aside the purported enstoolment of the said Bernard Botchway as the Osu Mantse as null and void ab initio.
The Dzaase is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the said Botchway from holding himself as the Osu Mantse or any persons or institutions or bodies from recognizing or holding the him as the Osu Mantse or enter his name into the National Register of Chiefs as the Osu Mantse.
In a related development, the Dzaase has written to the National House of Chiefs not to Oenter the name name of Bernard Botchway in the National Register of Chiefs.
In a letter addressed to the Registrar of the House, lawyers for the Dzaase, Fosu Gyeabour & Co said, “We have the instructions of our clients to inform you that the Osu Kinka We Dzaase, headed by NII SABAN ATSEN VII, the only Kingmakers of the Osu Paramount Stool have not enstooled Prof. Bernard Nii Nortey Botchway as the Osu Mantse.
‘The Kingmakers of Osu have filed a petition at the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Dodowa seeking to nullify the purported enstoolment of the said Prof. Bernard Nii Nortey Botchway as the Osu Mantse”.
“From the foregoing, we humbly urge the National House of Chiefs and its accredited Committees not to process any C.D Forms or enter the name of the said Prof. Bernard Nii Nortey Botchway, in the National Register of Chiefs as the Osu Mantse pending the determination of the petition against him,” part of notice to the National House of Chiefs read.
Meanwhile, the Osu Kinka We Dzaase and elders of Osu in a statement following the burial of the late Chief, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona, affirmed the enstoolment of Teteete Nii Nortey Owuo IV as the new Osu Paramount Chief of Osu.
About The Author
