Leaders of the Sampa Traditional Council have issued a passionate appeal to the President of Ghana, urging immediate state intervention in the protracted chieftaincy dispute in Sampa in the Bono Region.
Speaking on behalf of the council, the traditional leaders said their appeal is driven by grief, frustration and deep anxiety over the escalating tensions in the community.
“This is not a routine press engagement,” they said. “It is a cry for justice, an appeal for protection, and a call for urgent intervention.”
They directed their appeal to the President in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, noting that the Constitution ultimately places the safety of every Ghanaian in his hands.
According to the council, the situation in Sampa has moved beyond a traditional disagreement and is now a growing security concern that could spiral out of control if not addressed quickly.
Importance of Sampa
Sampa is the capital of the Jaman North District and home to more than 20,000 residents.
It is a key commercial centre in the Bono Region, widely known as Ghana’s cashew hub and an important border town facilitating trade between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Traditional leaders warned that the ongoing dispute threatens the peace that sustains livelihoods and economic activity in the area.
Two-Decade Succession Dispute
The chieftaincy dispute over the Sampa paramount stool has lasted nearly two decades.
According to the council, the matter went through several stages of customary mediation—from family deliberations to the traditional council—before eventually being referred to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is the traditional overlord of the Sampa stool.
Both the Sammor Duah family and the Afia Takyiwaa family reportedly submitted themselves voluntarily to the authority of the Asantehene for arbitration.
After years of consultations and customary adjudication, the Asantehene ruled in favour of the Afia Takyiwaa royal family, granting them the right to nominate a chief.
The family subsequently nominated Nana Samgba Gyaflaa II, who was later gazetted under Ghana’s Chieftaincy Act, giving him formal legal recognition by the state.
Traditional leaders emphasized that gazetting a chief is not merely ceremonial but a legal affirmation of legitimacy under Ghanaian law.
Violence and Loss of Lives
Despite the gazette, the council says resistance from the opposing faction has led to violence.
They claim that threats of violence were made prior to the gazetting process and that clashes eventually resulted in deaths, destruction of property, and the burning of vehicles and homes belonging to members of the Afia Takyiwaa family.
“Fathers who will never return home, mothers whose voices have been silenced, and children left with unanswered questions,” the statement said, describing the human cost of the conflict.
The council said justice for the victims has yet to be delivered.
Court Orders Ignored
The statement further alleges that tensions escalated recently when a rival faction attempted to perform funeral rites for the late Paramount Chief and Queen Mother despite a court injunction secured by the Ghana Police Service to prevent such activities.
According to the council, the injunction was ignored and the rites went ahead.
They also expressed concern about the alleged involvement or inaction of some influential figures and institutions, which they claim has emboldened unlawful actions and undermined confidence in the rule of law.
Alleged Illegal Land Sales
The council also raised alarm over alleged attempts to sell lands in Sampa despite a standing court injunction.
They warned that such actions could ignite deeper conflict in the future.
“Land in Sampa is not just soil,” the leaders said. “It is identity, inheritance, and the future of unborn generations.”
Warning of Escalation
While commending Nana Gyaflaa II for what they describe as restraint and reliance on legal processes, the leaders stressed that patience alone cannot replace state protection.
They warned that continued disregard for court orders and legal authority risks eroding public confidence in state institutions.
They also cautioned that the situation in Sampa could develop into a protracted conflict similar to that experienced in Bawku if early intervention is not taken.
Calls for Government Action
The traditional leaders are therefore calling on the government to:
* Enforce existing court orders
* Provide state protection for the gazetted Paramount Chief
* Investigate and prosecute acts of violence and arson
* Halt all unauthorized land sales in Sampa
“This is not a partisan appeal,” they said. “It is a moral, constitutional and human one.”
They concluded by urging the President to act swiftly to prevent further violence and restore peace in the community.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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