The embattled chief of Osu in the Greater Accra Region, Nii Nortey Owuo III, has accused the police of supporting a faction in the Osu chieftaincy dispute. The area currently has two rival chiefs - Nii Nortey Owuo III (who has been on the throne for 25 years) and Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI (installed on 3rd May, 2010) The rivalry heightened on Friday morning when the two families – Owuo and Dowuona – clashed over the legitimate faction to perform the initial rites for this year’s Homowo festival– an annual festival celebrated by the Gas. Supporters of the two gates clashed at the shrine around the Osu Castle Garden when they both sent different fetish priestesses to perform the rite. The clash left several persons injured and the police were called in to intervene. The Spokesperson for Nii Nortey Owuo III, Nii Kwei Nortey, told Joy News they would still go ahead with other rituals for the Homowo festivities. He accused the “imposed chief” (Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI) of storming the venue with landguards to interrupt the Homowo rituals. He stated that the festival would be observed at the chief’s palace or at a secluded place. Mr Lawrence Quist, Spokesperson for Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, rejected claims by the other faction and rather accused them of hiring the services of landguards to disrupt the occasion. He said the lives of the people in the area, especially those belonging to the Dowuona family, are in danger. He alleged that some were even beaten, and he himself is in a self-imposed prison for fear of his life. Meanwhile, the police have debunked the assertion by the Owuo faction that they (the police) are backing one side. The Greater Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, (ASP) Cyprian Zenge, said the police only went to the area with the sole interest of protecting property and lives. “We are actually there, in Osu traditional area, to see to it that there is public peace and order, and for people to go about their businesses.” Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana