From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi
THE ENTIRE Pakyi No. 1 Community has petitioned the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, seeking the reinstatement of the destooled chief, Nana Gyamfi Mensah Bonsu I.
The Asantehene caused the destoolment of the chief at a sitting of Asanteman Council at Manhyia Palace last Thursday May 21, 2015, for allegedly instigating the youth of Pakyi No. 2 to cause trouble in the area and thus thwarting the developmental agenda of Nana Kyei Aduakwa, the chief of Pakyi No 2.
But Stool elders and Kingmakers, Assemblyman, Unit Committee and teachers in the community have appealed to Asantehene to reconsider the destoolment charge and reinstate their chief.
John Forkuo and Akwasi Agyei, Assemblyman and Unit Committee Chairman respectively have, on behalf of the residents and entire community, craved the indulgence of the Asantehene to reinstate Nana Mensah Bonsu who they see as development oriented chief whose track record in the two and half years of reign exceeds many traditional rulers in the traditional setting in Ghana.
The petitioners argued his absence would create a serious development problem for the community. According to them, the destooled chief had championed the completion of a three-classroom block, a 20-seater toilet facility and rehabilitated the access roads from Pakyi No. 1 to link the main Kumasi Obuasi road. Nan Mensah Bonsu is also credited with the construction of an imposing ICT laboratory, another three classroom block, teachers quarters and the rehabilitation of a 4- classroom block which was affected by rainstorm recently and displaced about 505 pupils.
The fear of the two petitioners is that local teachers might seek transfers out of the place due to inadequate classrooms and living quarters which the ex-chief has promised to fix.
Assemblyman Forkuo and his colleague chairman Agyei apologized most sincerely to the Asantehene and any wrong doing that might have necessitated the destoolment of their chief. They have also petitioned the Tepamanhene, Nana Dr. Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem to intercede for the destooled chief on behalf of the people of Pakyi No 1.
In a related development, 24 signatories of teachers of the Pakyi No. 1 D/A Basic School have also petitioned the Tepahene to intervene on behalf of Nana Mensah Bonsu.
The teachers, led by Mr. Michael Fordjour, head teacher of the local basic school, feared the destoolment of the chief would impede the completion of an ICT laboratory, a three-classroom block, teachers’ quarters and the rehabilitation of a 4- classroom block which are being undertaken by the chief.
Meanwhile, Stool elders and king makers of Pakyi No 1 have also called for an amnesty for the destooled chief through the Omanhene of Kokofu Traditional Area.
The chiefs are Opanin Boakye Asare, Twafohene; Opanin Oti Awere, Nifahene; Opanin Osei Kwabena, Kyidomhene, Opanin Amankwa Asabere, Gyasehene; Opanin Kofi Abu and Oheneba Kofi Ahenwa and Opanin Kwabena Acheampong signed the petition to the Kokofuhene last week .
The elders also pointed to the development projects by the destooled chief and begged that their chief be reinstated to continue with his good work.