A Kumasi High Court has ordered the Bono Regional House of Chiefs to submit the Chieftaincy Declaration form of Nana Samgba Gyafla II, the Paramount Chief of the Sampa Traditional Area, to the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi.

According to Presiding Judge, Justice Abdul Razak Musah, this should be complied not later than the close of business on Monday, July 21, 2025.

The Chieftaincy Declaration form allows the House of Chiefs to gazette a chief. It forms part of the legal process under the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) to recognize a chief.

The Court says should the Bono Regional House of Chiefs fail to comply with this directive by the stated deadline, the Sampa Traditional Council, in its own capacity, is mandated to submit the said forms directly.

The Court has fixed 17th October, 2025 for proceedings to address a contempt charge brought against Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseedeeyo, Agyemang Badu II, who is said to have evaded the jurisdiction of the Court.

The Dormaahene is the President of the Bono regional House of Chiefs.

Background

The legal dispute revolves around the Bono Regional House of Chiefs' failure to endorse Nana Samgba Gyafla II's application for registration with the National House of Chiefs.

Nana Samgba Gyafla II, known in private life as Justice Emmanuel Ankamah, an Appeal Court judge, on 18th December, 2023, swore the Oath of Allegiance to the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace.

But a faction laying claim to the Sampa chieftaincy wrote to the National House of Chiefs seeking validation of his status for his name to be entered into the National Register of Chiefs.

Nana Samgba Gyafla, through his lawyers, also wrote to the House of Chiefs, describing the individual as fraudulent and urged the House to disregard the application.

This compelled the Asanteman Council to write a letter to the Bono Regional Minister and other stakeholders to introduce Nana Samgba Gyafla II as the legitimate paramount chief of Sampa Traditional Area.

In the letter, the Council indicated that Nana Samgba Gyafla II has complied with Article 277 of the 1992 Constitution and section 57 of the Chieftaincy Act 759 which state that “A chief is one hailing from the appropriate lineage or family, has been validly nominated, elected or selected and enstooled, enskinned or installed as a chief in accordance with the relevant customary law and usage.”

The letter also read: “It is imperative that Sampa Traditional Area is part of the Asanteman Council and thus bounded by the latter’s traditions and customs. Therefore, any person not having sworn his oath of allegiance before the Asantehene and the Asanteman Council in respect of a Paramount Stool part of Asanteman cannot be properly so-called a chief”