In February 1996 clashes occurred in Techiman between supporters and opponents of four chiefs who had been promoted to the rank of paramount chief, a number of people were killed and property was damaged (ARB Feb. 1996, 12165; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation 19 Feb. 1996; AP 20 Feb. 1996). Some sources reported six people as having died (AFP 18 Feb. 1996; ARB Feb. 1996, 12165), while AP wrote on 20 February 1996 that the death of a boy who was defending his home from "rampaging youths" brought the number of deaths to seven. Homes were burnt in the disturbances (ibid.; ARB Feb. 1996, 12165). The disturbances occurred in the Brong Ahafo region of west-central Ghana (AP 20 Feb. 1996; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation 19 Feb. 1996; West Africa 26 Feb. - 3 Mar. 1996). Military units were also sent to the area in response to the incidents (AP 20 Feb. 1996; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation 23 Feb. 1996).

The disturbances erupted after the Ashanti king promoted the chiefs against the wishes of the area's residents (AFP 18 Feb. 1996; IPS 19 Feb. 1996; AP 20 Feb. 1996). The Ashanti have historically claimed authority over some Brong areas (ibid.; IPS 19 Feb. 1996). AP reported that the four chiefs were elevated "in the villages of Tanboase, Tanoso, Tuobodom and Buoyem" (18 Feb. 1996). IPS provided the following background:

The Brong-Ashanti issue, which had been dormant, resurfaced on Feb. 12 when Asantehene Opoku Ware II announced the promotion of 17 subchiefs to the rank of paramount chief. The newly promoted chiefs included those from Tanoso, Tuobodom, Tano Boase and Buoyam in the Techiman area.

The promotion, and by extension the elevation of the status of the four towns, should have been done by the paramount chief of the Techiman Traditional Area, Nana Takyi Ameyaw, who saw the asantehene's move as meant to reassert his former authority.

Following the promotion announcement, therefore, the four towns each had two chiefs, one installed by the traditional kingmakers of Techiman and the other by the asantehene. However, after the weekend riots involving supporters of the rival chiefs, those installed by the Ashanti leader fled the area.

Pointing out that the towns belonged to the Techiman traditional area, Nana Takyi Ameyaw said times had changed and that the Brong people would resist any attempt by the Ashantis to dominate them.

"The elevation of those towns by the asantehene implies that those towns now belong to the Ashanti Region House of Chiefs and we are not prepared to allow this," he added.

Nana Ameyaw said the Asantehene's actions undermined the "sovereignty" of the Techiman Traditional Council and called on him to remove all the chiefs he had installed in Brong Ahafo or hold himself responsible for any calamity that befell them (19 Feb. 1996).

After the disturbances the National Security Council held an emergency meeting to review the situation (West Africa 26 Feb. - 3 Mar. 1996; ARB Feb. 1996; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation 28 Feb. 1996) and the Interior Minister visited Techiman in order to hold talks with traditional leaders (ibid.; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation 23 Feb. 1996). The Council appealed for calm and "instituted measures to maintain law and order" (ibid. 19 Feb. 1996). The Interior Minister:

urged the media to be objective and fair in their reports in order to avoid disturbing the calm atmosphere now prevailing in the district. Col. Osei-Owusu made the call at a briefing with newsmen in Techiman, following separate meetings he held with the Techiman Traditional Council and the newly elevated chief of (Boyem) and his elders at the village.

Col. Osei-Owusu said his visit to the two main trouble spots was to appeal to the traditional authorities there to exercise restraint in order to create the necessary atmosphere for finding an amicable and lasting solution to the problem. He asked the combined police and military force now deployed in the area to be fair and firm in their operations (ibid.).

The government also directed the National Emergency Committee to investigate the causes of the disturbances in order to "ensure a return to a state of normalcy to enable all displaced persons to go back to their homes" (ibid. 28 Feb. 1996). It was also instructed to make appropriate recommendations and an official government statement "explained that while it is not the intention of the government to interfere with the institution of chieftaincy as entrenched in the constitution, the same constitution charges the government to ensure that law and order prevail at all times throughout the country" (ibid.).

The Research Directorate was unable to find any further information on this dispute, or its final outcome. However, there is a 2 March 1999 reference to the "paramount chief of Techiman traditional area," Osabarima Dotobibi Takyia-Ameyaw, as providing advice to newly installed chief who swore allegiance to Takyia-Ameyaw (Ghana Review International 2 Mar. 1999). The Research Directorate has been unable to determine whether this Takyia-Ameyaw is the same man as mentioned in the IPS report of 19 February 1996.

No mention of the Krotia Royal Family at Tuobodom could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. February 1996. Vol. 33, No. 2. "Ghana: Tribal Clashes."

Agence France Presse (AFP). 18 February 1996. "Six dead in Clash Over Nomination of Traditional Chiefs in Ghana." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 20 February 1996. "International News: Accra, Ghana." (NEXIS)

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation [Accra, in English]. 28 February 1996. "Ghana: Government Asks Committee to Investigate Disturbances." (BBC Summary 29 Feb. 1996/NEXIS)

_____. 23 February 1996. "Ghana: Interior Minister Calls for Peace in Techiman District." (FBIS-AFR-96-038 23 Feb. 1996/WNC)

_____. 19 February 1996. "Ghana: Government Issues Statement on Chieftancy Disturbances." (FBIS-AFR-96-034 19 Feb. 1996/WNC)

Ghana Review International [London]. 2 March 1999. "Chiefs Advised to be Role Models." http://www.mclglobal.com/History/Mar1999/02c1999/02c9n.html [Accessed 11 July 2000]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 19 February 1996. Edward Ameyibor and Divine Koblah. "Ghana - Politics: Chieftancy Dispute Sparks Bloody Riots." (NEXIS)

West Africa [London]. 26 February - 3 March 1996. "Chieftancy Deaths."

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

LEXIS-NEXIS

REFWORLD

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites including:

Ghana Review International [London]. January 1999 - July 2000.

United Nations, Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN).

Search engines including:

Africa OnLine

HotBot