Assemblyman snubs Sunyani chiefs

STORY: FROM MICHAEL MFUM, SUNYANI

Raphael Cubagee, the Assemblyman for Abousum Electoral Area in the Brong Ahafo region, has emphatically stated that he has no dime or whatsoever to offer Nana Bosoma Aso Nkraniri II, the Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area, for dragging the name of the chief in the mud.

Raphael Cubage was recently fined by the Sunyani Traditional Council (STC) and ordered to present 24 rams, 3 bottles of foreign schnapps for peddling falsehood about Nana Bosoma Aso Nkraniri II, when he allegedly wrote letters to Castle, the seat of government, that the chief and his elders were illegally selling lands in the Sunyani municipality.

Speaking on a private radio station, Sky fm in Sunyani, Mr Cubagee was emphatic that he has nothing to pay to the Omanhene and that even if he has those items, he would better sell them to cater for his family.

“The decision of the Sunyani traditional council was hogwash. How can they pass such a myopic judgement, Ok! I wonder if they are expecting me to pay those items. Over my dead body!,” Mr Cubagee bluntly stated.

According to him, he was made to kneel down on a scorching sun for two-and-half good productive hours when he was invited to the chief’s palace — a situation he described as an abuse of his fundamental human right, stressing that he was talking to his lawyers about the issue.

He, however, reiterated that under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana no chief or group of persons can banish any individual from any community thereby advising members of the STC to think about important matters.

Against that background, Mr Cubagee called on the police to offer him maximum protection since he could be attacked for publicly challenging the ruling of the STC.

In a swift reaction on the same medium, Nana Bofotia Boa-Amponsem II, the Krontihene for the Sunyani Traditional Area, who also chaired the said meeting, said Mr Cubagee when questioned on the matter could not provide ample evidence to back his claim compelling the STC to fine him.