Man Banished For Challenging Ruling

Human rights activists in collaboration with the police in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region are investigating circumstances surrounding the banishment of an entire family from Walewale by the paramount chief of Wungu. Mr. Fuseini Bawa, a businessman and his family were thrown out of their house on the wee hours of Christmas Eve on the orders of the Wungu Naba, Alhaji Saaka Sulemana for alleged acts of insubordination. Mr. Bawa�s crime was threatening to resort to the law courts over attempts by the chief to allegedly trample on his rights in a matter involving him and a runaway Fulani man who was taking care of his cattle. Alhaji Saaka Sulemana who did not take kindly to the threats demanded that the young man, who it had been established relates to the Walewale Chief, vacated the town since a subject could not challenge his chief and live under the same roof with him. The facts of the matter as unravelled by Daily Guide had it that some residents in the area gave cattle to a Fulani herdsman, currently on the run, to take care of them while they checked on him periodically to ascertain whether he was up to the task. Somewhere along the line, the Fulani man reportedly sold the animals to people who also had cattle with him, creating multiple owners after which he fled the community on sensing danger. His action created confusion between cattle owners and buyers who were making claims and counter-claims over the remaining animals at the ranch in Wungu. The Wungu Naba at this stage intervened and in his ruling distributed the cattle to various claimants, except Fuseini Bawa who also had cattle with the Fulani herdsman prior to the incident. Fuseini took exception to the action of the Wungu Chief and claimed he was unjustifiably treated. He therefore petitioned the traditional ruler through a legal counsel but this infuriated the chief who asked his authority in challenging his verdict on the matter. The matter was also reported to the police but Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Simon Peter Akabati, the West Mamprusi District Police Commander, disclosed that the District Security Committee (DISEC) set up a committee and asked the Traditional Council to settle the matter amicably. It later turned out that the settlement package was allegedly not properly done, prompting the banished businessman to write a letter claiming 26 cattle within five days, in default of which the chief and his allies shall be dragged to court. This was said to have further angered the chief who endorsed his banishment without delay since under the customs and traditions of the area subjects did not dictate to chiefs. The banished man, it was gathered, had since arrived at Nalerigu, the traditional capital of Mamprugu and petitioned the Nayiri, who has authority over the entire Mamprugu, to intervene in the matter. The Nayiri has therefore dispatched a three-man delegation to Walewale to resolve the case.