Family members of the Binah royal family of the Ziope Traditional Area in the Volta Region have served notice that the family is yet to enstool a paramount chief to succeed the late Togbui Binah Lawluvi VI, who ruled for 34 years.
Lawluvi VI served as a member of the council of state under the opposition NDC government.
On Friday, 13 March, the Kpeyehi family (kingmakers), some chiefs, queens and elders of Ziope outdoored a newly installed chief, Togbui Binah Lawluvi VII, to succeed the late paramount chief.
However, at a press conference held in Ho on Sunday, 19 March by the Binah royal family, Zikpuitor (stool father) Kosi Akpalu of Ziope- Wuvega explained to the media that the “self-acclaimed” newly out-doored chief who is known in private life as Frank Gasese was a Zikpuitor to the late paramount chief.
Akpalu stated that, according to the customs and traditions of the traditional area, a Zikpuitor cannot be enstooled as a chief. The Zikpuitors rather installs a chief. He said the paramount chief position is reserved for the Binah royal family and the stool father position is reserved for the Gasese family.
Akpalu alleged that, factions of Gasese did not “even perform the appropriate rites.”
He explained that, the people of Ziope have an alliance with the people of Atiavi in the Anlo state, “who must come to perform the necessary rites in Ziope in addition to our own before a candidate can be recognised as a chief, but this rite was not done.”
Akpalu said “if we allow Zikpuitor Frank Gasese to reign, all other Zikpuitors in the area will also want to become a chief and this will cause disputes in Ziope. Therefore, Frank Gasese must leave the throne for the Binah royal family.”
Binah Amos spoke on behalf of the Binah royal family. He said the new chief should not showcase himself as paramount chief of the area because he is not from the Binah royal family. He is from the Gasese family. The Gasese family has always held the position of Zikpuitor hence he can only continue to be the Zikpuitor he was under the late chief.
Grace Binah alleged that, after the demise of Togbui Binah VI, Gasese asked to succeed him but the entire Binah royal family rejected the idea because he does not deserve it. His role is to serve as Zikpuitor.
She said the case was processed for court. They (Binah royal family family, Gasese and his factions), later, opted for alternative dispute resolution. Gasese and his alliance swiftly installed and outdoored him as paramount chief.
Has the peace in the area been jeopardised?
Akpalu said lives were lost because of the incident. An important elder is severely sick severely. If the right thing is not done, more lives will be in danger. This will affect the peace enjoyed by the people of Ziope.
Akpalu has alleged that the Binah family and elders from the various clans of Ziope have consulted the Zikpui (royal stool god) and it was served that, Gasese is not the right heir to the throne. Gasese is aware of this. If he is not destooled, there will be consequences on both Gasese and Binah families and the entire Ziope community.
The Binah family has alleged that Gasese bribed some of the king makers with money because he’s rich and wants to reign.
What is Binah royal family asking for?
The Binah royal family, chiefs, queens, elders, the youth and king makers who are not in support of the new chief, have petitioned the office of the president, Member of Parliament for the area, regional security council, the police, Volta Regional House of Chiefs and other stakeholders to come to their aid to uphold the right tradition.
The family, however, gave a one-month ultimatum to the Kpeyehi family (king makers) and Gasese to abdicate the throne, otherwise they will pursue the matter in court. The family said that should the court fail to prioritise the case, it will be put before the stool gods to make the final judgement.
Reporting by Albert Kuzor in the Volta Region
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