The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, is said to have issued the order because the manager, Mr Fred Effah-Yeboah, disobeyed his orders.

When contacted on phone, the Dormaahene declined to speak on the matter, explaining that he would comment on it at the appropriate time.

The Dormaa Police Commander, DSP Mahmoud Yusif, who confirmed  the threat on Mr Effah-Yeboah’s life, said the police had advised the manager to leave the town for his safety, while efforts were being made to resolve the issue.

The police gave the advice to Mr Effah-Yeboah after he had lodged a complaint about the threat issued by the Omanhene with the Dormaa Police.

Background

The Dormaahene is said to have given the order to Mr Effah-Yeboah to leave the town by Monday, February 24, 2014 at his palace when he sat in state between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2014.

He is also said to have dissolved the Area Board of the Presbyterian Health Service in the Brong-Ahafo Region on the basis that he, as the Paramount Chief, ought to be the automatic Chairman of that board.

He further directed that the Aduanahene of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Barima Yeboah Kodie II, should henceforth be the Chairman of the Area Board in his stead.

Anger 

According to a source at the hospital, the anger of the traditional authorities might have stemmed from the decision by the Presbyterian Hospital to construct a new mortuary, instead of relying on the services of a mortuary which was built by the traditional authorities about 10 years ago.

It said by arrangements, the mortuary built by the traditional authorities was supposed to give part of its revenue to the hospital.

Unfortunately, after the arrangements had been respected for some time, the managers of the mortuary discontinued the periodic payment of revenue to the hospital.

Following the completion of the hospital’s mortuary in December 2013, the people of Dormaa and other communities began patronising the services of the new mortuary, instead of the old one.

The situation seemed not to have gone well with the managers of the old mortuary, who perceived the decision of the hospital to build a new mortuary without authorisation as a sign of disrespect to the traditional authorities.

No locus

Meanwhile, the authorities of the Presbyterian Health Services Directorate have stated that the Dormaahene had no locus to dissolve the hospital’s board as had been constituted by the church.

They said the hospital’s board was still in place and ensuring the running of the hospital to meet the health needs of the people.

Efforts to reach the Dormaahene or any member of the Dormaa Traditional Council to comment on the issue proved futile.

When contacted, the Health Services Co-ordinator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Mr Sam Sarpong-Appiah, said the board of the hospital was meeting to discuss the issue and determine the next line of action