The Queen mother of the Wenchi traditional Area, Nana Toaa Samangyedua II, has called on the Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to prevent the celebration of the annual ‘Apo' Festival According to the Queenmother, the celebration of the festival by a rival chief is likely to lead to a breach of peace, mayhem and loss of lives and property, if not stopped. A press statement issued by the Queenmother, noted that the damage which may be caused to life and property, as a result of celebration of the festival, would be enormous, and would have serious consequences on the resources of the state to repair, rather than prevent it. Nana Toaa Samangyedua indicated that by the custom and tradition of Wenchi, she plays a pivotal role in the celebration of the 'Apo' Festival, but because of the chieftaincy dispute, she (the Queen) had been sidelined in the purported celebration. The Queenmother stated that the rival chief, who is spearheading the celebration, was not a gazetted chief, and therefore, according to the laws of the country, has no legal and constitutional right to perform chiefly duties and functions, which is the reason why the celebration should be stopped. "Due to the disastrous consequences which are likely to arise, I, Nana Toaa Samagyedua II, petitioned the Regional Minister and the REGSEC to stop the celebration of the festival to protect life and property, but unfortunately the Regional Minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, and the REGSEC deceived me and my followers into believing that they will stop the celebration, which was not the case, but rather encouraged the said rival chief to go ahead with the celebration," Nana Toaa Samagyedua stated. According to the Queenmother, the situation on the ground has necessitated her to inform the people of Ghana, and use the opportunity to appeal to the President, His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, to stop the celebration of the festival, to avert any possible clashes between the factions in Wenhi to protect life and property. When contacted on phone, Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo explained that as the Regional Minister, he had no right to mingle in matters of chieftaincy, so he could not order the stoppage of the Apo Festival or its celebration. According to him, as the Chairman of the REGSEC it was his responsibility to ensure peace and order, hence he only has to inform the security agencies to be on the alert at Wenchi, so that should the unexpected happen they would intervene to restore peace and order. "I have never encouraged anybody to celebrate any festival, but I will encourage any faction which thinks the celebration of the Apo Festival is against tradition to seek legal action," Nyametye Marfo stated. He continued that he does not know who qualifies to be a chief, to organise a traditional festival, so there was no way he could stop the festival. Source: The Chronicle