By Daniel Bampoe
The newly installed Chief of Kyebi Zongo, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed, has declared a firm stance against indiscipline, drug abuse and social disorder in the Zongo community, vowing to restore order and reposition the area as a hub of peace, education and development within Okyeman.
Speaking at his coronation ceremony in Kyebi, Alhaji Sanusi said his reign would confront long-standing challenges that have undermined social cohesion in the Zongo, including sanitation lapses, declining educational commitment and the rise of drug abuse and petty crime among sections of the youth.
He described indiscipline as a major threat to the future of the community and pledged a leadership that would be “of Kyebi Zongo, by Kyebi Zongo and for Kyebi Zongo.”
The coronation, which attracted Zongo chiefs from across the country, traditional authorities and political figures, came weeks after the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, brought closure to a protracted chieftaincy dispute that had divided the Kyebi Zongo and raised security concerns.
Alhaji Sanusi used his acceptance speech to call for unity after months of tension over the Zongo skin, urging all factions to put the contest behind them and work together for development. He acknowledged the divisions that preceded his selection but stressed that reconciliation would be central to his leadership.
“Your voice matters, and your contribution is invaluable,” he said, extending an olive branch to those who opposed his candidature.
On sanitation, the new chief promised to work with local authorities and residents to improve waste management and hygiene, describing a clean environment as both a public health necessity and a matter of communal pride.
He warned that lax attitudes toward cleanliness would no longer be tolerated, signalling a tougher approach to enforcing communal responsibility.
Education featured prominently in his address, with Alhaji Sanusi urging parents and guardians to keep their children in school and challenging Zongo youth to abandon the notion that their background limits their potential.
He cited examples of students from Zongo communities emerging as university valedictorians, excelling in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and building successful businesses.
According to him, academic excellence must go hand in hand with Islamic moral training to produce disciplined and responsible citizens.
He also outlined plans to collaborate with security agencies, religious leaders and civil society groups to combat drug abuse, crime and other social vices, which he described as corrosive to community life.
“We will tackle these scourges head-on to create a safer and more secure Kyebi Zongo,” he said.
Alhaji Sanusi’s installation follows a decisive ruling by the Okyenhene on December 9, 2025, after several months of hearings at the Customary Tribunal of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.
The case was triggered by a challenge from six indigenes of Kyebi Zongo, including a son of the late Zongo Chief, Sariki Abubakari Umar, who died earlier in 2025.
The petitioners disputed the selection of Alhaji Sanusi as chief, arguing issues of lineage and succession.
In his ruling, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin urged all parties to give peace a chance and upheld Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed as the validly elected successor.
The Okyenhene explained that historical evidence and testimonies presented before the tribunal established the Hausa people as the first settlers in the Kyebi Zongo and, therefore, the eligible group to provide occupants of the Zongo stool.
He clarified that succession is not strictly matrilineal or patrilineal but depends on the selection of the most suitable candidate from among the Hausa, a responsibility vested in their elders.
The Okyenhene further noted that Alhaji Sanusi, a Kyebi-born Hausa man, had distinguished himself in service to the community and possessed the maturity, experience and pedigree required to lead.
While stressing that he bore no personal animosity toward the main rival claimant, the son of the late chief, the Okyenhene ruled that the presence of an older and more qualified candidate made Alhaji Sanusi’s selection appropriate at this time.
Alhaji Sanusi, who teaches Physics at Abuakwa State College (ABUSCO) and previously served as second-in-command to the late Zongo Chief, is also the Abuakwa South Constituency Chairman of the NDC.
By virtue of his installation, he becomes President of the Akyem Abuakwa Council of Zongo Chiefs and a member of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.
In his remarks following the ruling and at the coronation, Alhaji Sanusi expressed gratitude to the Okyenhene and traditional authorities for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to uphold peace, harmony and development in Kyebi Zongo and to bring honour to Okyeman.
He assured the gathering that his doors would remain open to all who are genuinely committed to the progress of the community.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Okyenhene, led by the Gyasehene, officials of the National Council of Zongo Chiefs, the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Awatey, and senior figures of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including the party’s National Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka, and Eastern Regional Chairman, Dr. Kevor Mark-Oliver. Also present were the Municipal Chief Executive for Abuakwa South, Nana Addo Sarpong Aikins, Islamic clerics, Christian clergy, community elders and members of the media.
“Your voice matters, and your contribution is invaluable,” he said, extending an olive branch to those who opposed his candidature.
On sanitation, the new chief promised to work with local authorities and residents to improve waste management and hygiene, describing a clean environment as both a public health necessity and a matter of communal pride. 
