Chieftaincy Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has disclosed that government made efforts to persuade Dormaahene (a chief or leader from Dormaa) to adhere to the arrangements made by the planning committee for the funeral of the late Berekum Paramount Chief.
The government wanted Dormaahene to respect the scheduled plans and protocols set by the committee regarding the funeral proceedings.
This involvement suggests an attempt to ensure order and adherence to established arrangements during a significant event, such as the funeral of a paramount chief.
However, the Chief did not abide by the appeal.
The Berekum Traditional Council obtained a legal injunction last month, preventing Dormaahene Oseadeeyo Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II (a chief from Dormaa) from attending the funeral of the late Berekum Paramount Chief on a specific day.
An injunction is a legal order that restrains someone from doing a particular act, and in this case, it restrained Dormaahene from participating in the funeral activities on the designated day.
The specific reasons for seeking the injunction were not detailed, but legal measures like this are typically taken to address disputes or concerns related to protocol, tradition, or other issues surrounding significant events like funerals.
The November 22 court process came less than 24 hours to the date Dormaahene wanted to attend, which was the day planned for the attendance of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Asamoah Boateng confirmed in an interview on TV3 that he had personally called the Dormaahene to consider other options aside the day Otumfuo was also billed to attend.
“I called him and I pleaded with him, that Nana, look at the programme, you are meant to be there on Wednesday, not Thursday because I know the public discourse would not be peaceful if you appeared on the same day,” he said.
The minister confirmed that the Dormaahene explained that Wednesday was a ‘dabone’ – a bad day – for him and that he could not possibly attend.
Asked his thoughts about the injunction, and its propriety or otherwise, he said he did not have an opinion on it, save that maybe it was what the traditional council saw as the best option.