Press Briefing By Barima Tweneboah Sasraku II, Jukwa-Mfuom Hene on Friday 10th Feb 2023 at Jukwa-Mfuom*
1. We are Ghanaians living peacefully in Jukwa-Mfuom & surrounding communities within the Kakum National Park's Catchment area.
2. We reside in the Hemang Lower Denkyira Constituency/District in the Central Region of Ghana.
3. We belong to the Denkyira Traditional Area with Nana Ama Ayensua Saara III as our Denkyira Hemaa and current leader of Denkyira with the going to the ancestors by our Great King, not long ago.
4. The people of Denkyira have lived peaceably with the people of the Hemang Traditional Area from time immemorial without any breaches of the peace.
5. In the past 2 years or so, we heard rumours of the Paramount Chief of Hemang Traditional joining his ancestors. Even though we have not heard of his burial and installation of a successor, someone who styles himself as Otumfoɔ Amoa Sasraku IV as the Paramount Chief of Hemang.
6. Since the supposed installation of the Paramount Chief of Hemang, the people of Jukwa-Mfuom and it's surrounding areas have had series of harrasments and intimidations from assigns and some "land guards" of the supposed Chief.
7. The supposed Paramount Chief of Hemang lays claim that portions of land from Hemang to Jukwa-Abrafo, which includes Jukwa-Mfuom is part of his Stool Land.
8. This claim by the Chief of Hemang are in contravention of:
a. The PNDC Law 294 (Hemang Lands [Acquisition & Compensation] Act 1992, PNDCL 294)
b. A Cape Coast High Court ruling presided over by Justice Emmanuel Atsu Lodoh, which states among others "that the disputed land remains vested in the Republic of Ghana, since the acquisition instrument remains valid,”.
The Court went further to order that "the plaintiff — Nana Amoa Sasraku IV, the Paramount Chief of Twifo-Hemang, or anybody acting on his behalf — not to set foot on the land for the *sake of peace and security.*
“It is further ordered that the plaintiff, successors in title, agents, assigns or any other person or entity deriving its authority from the plaintiff is equally hereby restrained from interfering with the disputed land,”
9. In spite of the aforementioned Law and Court Order, the Chief of Hemang harrases the law-abiding residents of this area by forcefully grading and destroying our farm lands and properties.
10. Taking cognisance of the fact that the people of Denkyira and Hemang belong to different Paramountcies in the Traditional setting, we expected the Chiefs and people of Hemang to resolve issues, if any, with the Denkyirahene or his assigns and not the ordinary citizens who are Denkyiras, inhabiting the said lands allotted to them by the aforesaid Denkyirahene.
11. The MP for Hemang-Lower Denkyira Constituency, Hon Bright Wereko-Brobbey has looked on unconcerned as the Chief disregards the very laws he has been elected to enact. He has also disrespected the Courts that interprete and entire the laws enacted by him as a legislator. This is because our Hon MP is the Brother/Cousin of the Chief of Hemang and he is in support of the actions of his brother/cousin because he is likely to benefit immensely from the gains that the Chief of Hemang will derive.
Our MP, who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Employment & Labour Relations has been consistently absent from the communities that are being harrased and intimidated since he was reelected in 2020 as the Hon MP for our Constituency.
12. Noting that we want a peaceful occupation of our lands in Jukwa-Mfuom and it's surrounding communities, we seek the following:
(a). Bring to the notice of the District Adminstration that our very existence is being threatened by the Chiefs and people of Hemang
(b). The Courts should sanction the Chief of Hemang for violating an Order given by a Court of competent jurisdiction, i.e. A High Court.
(c). The Regional House of Chiefs to advise the Chief of Hemang to dialogue with the Denkyirahene and other paramountcies he shares boundaries with.
(d). The Speaker of Parliament to caution the MP for Hemang-Lower Denkyira, Hon Bright Wereko-Brobbey to seek the interest of the Constituency and not his personal interest.
(e). The President, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo to call the MP to order as he works in his Administration as a Deputy Minister.
13. As defenceless and law-abiding citizens, we shall *not* do anything that shall mar the security of our town, District, Region or Country.
Issued at Jukwa-Mfuom by Barima Tweneboah Sasraku II, Jukwa-Mfuomhene & Denkyira Abuakwa/Nifahene.
10th February 2023
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