Family banished from Ghanaian town on Christmas eve
An entire family comprising a man and his two wives as well as children were banished from Walewale on the night of December 24 for an alleged recalcitrant behaviour towards the Paramount chief of Wungu.
Mr Fuseini Bawa and his family were thrown out of their house on the orders of the Wungu Naba, Alhaji Saaka Sulemana, saying he did not deserve to live in the community for his alleged stubbornness and threatening to sue him (Chief).
Information gathered by the Ghana News Agency had it that many people gave cattle to a Fulani herdsman to take care of but he sold the animals to people who also had cattle with him, creating multiple owners.
The Fulani herdsman sensed danger and bolted leaving the cattle behind, creating conflict among the buyers.
The Wungu Naba intervened and distributed the cattle and in the process denied the banished man who also had cattle with the Fulani herdsman. He complained that he was unjustifiably treated through a lawyer and this led to his banishment.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Simon Peter Akabati, the West Mamprusi District Police Commander, told the GNA that DISEC set up a committee and asked the Traditional Council to settle the matter amicably.
He said Bawa did not accept the settlement by the Traditional Council and wrote a letter demanding 26 cattle within five days and failure would result in him taking legal action against the chief.
According DSP Akabadti, the chief became furious and banished him since according to their tradition, subjects did not dictate to chiefs.
A civil society group based in Walewale that pleaded anonymity described the incident as a big slap on the face of human rights advocacy and an affront to the fundamental human rights of the banished family.
It said the family was thrown out of their own house in the cold hours of the night, which was dehumanizing.
The organization said it was even surprising that the matter was sent to the District Security Committee but it failed to resolve the matter and called on the Police Service and the National Security Agencies to act.
The banished man has arrived at Nalerigu to complain to the Nayire who has authority over the entire Mamprugu and the GNA learnt the Nayiri had sent a three-man delegation to Walewale to resolve the matter.
Source: GNA