Disrespect for traditional authorities has over the years been identified as a factor to the chieftaincy disputes which have plagued the country leaving some of the conflict flashpoints seemingly intractable.
From Bawku to now Sampa and others the hands of political actors from especially the corridor of power have been fingered in most of these disputes. In spite of the identification of the political machinations politicians who find themselves in power at any given time continue to meddle in this sensitive matter.
Security agencies who are eventually left to bear the burden of restoring order are given dangerous orders by politicians which are unable to disobey.For the first time the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II descended on some government appointees and a regional police commander for their role in muddying the chieftaincy waters in Sampa now a conflict hotspot.
We commend the Ashanti King for the rare bluntness on a matter which is threatening the peace in this Bono location.
His openness on the case in point suggests that indoor approach to the raging security challenge did not work hence his decision to go public.Those who show deaf ears on such sensitive subjects must be spoken to in plain language that their conduct or even abuse of office does not augur well for peace.
That the King mentioned the names of top politicians in government underscores the seriousness of the subject.
The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, the Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Regional Police Commander were mentioned by the Otumfuo and we find the implication of these persons in the debacle shameful and disappointing. The Interior Minister should have known better the importance of not abusing his office considering the fallouts from doing so as a personality who superintends over the internal security agencies on behalf of the President and Commander-In-Chief.
Giving orders which cannot be disobeyed by the professionals on the ground even if these compromise peace trigger questions about the integrity of the minister.
The Regional Minister according to the Asantehene called a judge during a weekend and directed him to remand the rival chief in the Sampa dispute. Such a despicable action by the Chairman of the Regional Security Council appears to be in consonance of the reset agenda of this government.
We are also told that the Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene the character who has found a place in social media where he spends most of his time misbehaving and taunting political opponents lauded his Bono counterpart for his action over the Sampa dispute.
Why would the gazetted chief as the Asantehene noted be told that his safety cannot be guaranteed by the Chairman of the Regional Security Council, the Regional Minister when the un-recognised one is allowed to hold himself as the legitimate paramount chief.
The action and inaction of the regional minister and the interior minister are intended to despise the Asantehene and this we find objectionable and reprehensible.
