S/R: Youth group demands removal of Registrar of Gonja Traditional Council

The Dankare be Lambu Youth have held a peaceful demonstration and presented a petition to the Overlord of the Gonja traditional area for the removal and prosecution of Mr. Abutu Kapori, the registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council.

The demonstration was held on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

They locked up the office of the embattled Abutu Kapori, who doubles as the registrar of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs.

Alhassan Kodua, Public Relations Officer of the Dankare Be Lambu youth, said in a written petition, “It is with grave concern that we bring to attention the appalling malfeasances, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office by Mr. Abutu Kapori, the Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council, and the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs.”

“We, as a united front, demand his removal from office as the Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council and the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs”, the petition added.

He argued that although the job description of a registrar to a traditional council or house of chiefs, as enshrined in the Chieftaincy Act, is a matter of public knowledge, the registrar has been working outside his job schedule for the past 8 years.

“The job description of the Registrar (Abutu Kapori) explicitly prohibits the use of his position for personal businesses and dealings. Yet, it has come to our attention that Mr. Abutu Kapori has shamelessly exploited his office for personal gains, flagrantly disregarding his responsibilities as a public servant. This audacious misconduct strikes at the core of our democratic principles and undermines the trust that the public has placed in the registrar’s office.”

Misappropriation of Public Funds:
The youth accused Mr. Abutu Kapori of “brazenly” seizing royalties from various sectors, including charcoal, cattle farmers, logging, mining communities, and businessmen, for his personal benefit, without any form of financial accountability.

According to the them, such wanton disregard for financial transparency does not only erode public trust but also perpetuates a culture of corruption that hampers the development of our beloved Gonjaland.

Below is the full details of the petition:

PETITION FOR THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL AND PROSECUTION OF MR. ABUTU KAPORI WHO DOUBLES, THE REGISTRAR OF THE SAVANNAH REGIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS WHO DOUBLES AS THE REGISTRAR OF THE GONJA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL AND TO CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY FORMULATE TRANSPARENT ROADMAP FOR FINDING A LASTING SOLUTION TO THE RECURRENT GONJA-MAMPRUSI CONFLICT OVER LUKULA AND MEMPEASEM COMMUNITIES.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we the members of the Dankare be Lembu,a vibrant youth group that advocates for peace and promotes Gonja Traditions, welcome you to this important press briefing. Before we start, we wish to call on the Minister of The Interior, minister of defense, and the IGP to call their men security personnel to order, with regards to the manner in which they handle the Gonja-Manpurusi civil unrest in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region. This is because, in such a situation, it would be unfair for the military and the police to arrest and brutalize one faction, especially at a location (Daboya) far away from the battlefield (Lukula and Mempeasem).

Indeed, we have a couple of video tapes with Soonaba and one other Mampurusi chief threatening to fight Gonjas and capture Daboya. Yet, up to now, we have not seen a single investigation in relation to such threats. So, if such war eventually breaks out, who should be arrested first? That notwithstanding, we condemn in no uncertain terms any untoward actions by both factions.

We the above-mentioned Youth of Gonjaland wish to implore the authorities mentioned above to, as a matter of urgency, release the arrested Daboya people for amicable resolution of the matter.

We also wish to use this opportunity to call on our brother the vice president of the republic of Ghana, H. E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to call his people to order, especially during this critical time that it appears some of them are abusing their closer relationship with you, in as much as we wish to call on our brothers at Daboya and environs to cease fire. War doesn’t build but destroys.

We are, nonetheless, sorry for the unfortunate loss of precious lives and property in this situation. For this reason, let’s observe a minute silence for the fallen one. May his soul rest in peace.

ABOUT ABUTU KAPORI

We, the members of the Dankare be Lambu , a vibrant youth group for the promotion of Gonja traditions, write this petition with a deep sense of urgency and a steadfast commitment to justice and accountability. It is with grave concern that we bring to your attention the appalling malfeasances, misappropriation of public funds and the abuse of office by Mr. Abutu Kapori, the Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council and the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs. We, as a united front, demand his removal from office as the Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council and the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs.

The job description of a Registrar to a traditional council or house of chiefs, as enshrined in the Chieftaincy Act, is a matter of public knowledge; receiving and filing of documents, writing of official letters, taking minutes during council or house meetings, etc. However, our registrar for the past 8 years has been working outside his job schedule. That is, Mr. Abutu Kapori crosses the boundaries of the registrar’s office into illegal dealings, using the office, with impunity.

1. Abutu Kapori’s Egregious Misuse of Office:

The job description of the Registrar (Abutu Kapori) explicitly prohibits the use of his position for personal businesses and dealings. Yet, it has come to our attention that Mr. Abutu Kapori has shamelessly exploited his office for personal gains, flagrantly disregarding his responsibilities as a public servant. This audacious misconducts stbrike at the core of our democratic principles and undermines the trust that the public has placed in the Registrar’s office.

2. Disrespectfulness towards traditional leaders

3. Abutu Kapori is deeply involved in issues of Chieftaincy racketeering and sales. His dubious abuse of the registrar’s office has been discovered as a major cause of chieftaincy related conflicts in Gonjaland and the Savannah region.

4. Abutu Kapori has been involved in land sales across Gonjaland for his personal gains.

5. Brazen Misappropriation of Public Funds:

Mr. Abutu Kapori stands accused of brazenly seizing royalties from various sectors, including charcoal, cattle farmers, logging, mining communities, and businessmen, without any form of financial accountability. These funds, which rightfully belong to the public, have been misused for personal enrichment, constituting a gross violation of his fiduciary duties as a registrar. Such wanton disregard for financial transparency does not only erode public trust but also perpetuates a culture of corruption that hampers the development of our beloved Gonjaland.

6. Unauthorized Exploitation of Official Letterhead:

One of the most alarming aspects of Abutu Kapori’s misconducts is the unauthorized and improper use of the letterhead belonging to the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs. These acts of manipulation and deception have allowed him to advance personal ventures under the guise of official business, causing irreparable harm to the reputation of the esteemed institution he represents. A glaring example of this abuse is his utilization of the letterhead to secure sponsorships and benefits for his KAGA foundation’s pageantry program, the Wuripe Savannah Cultural Festival (WUSACUF), from the owner of Wuripe and Sons Royal Lodge. This misuse does not only compromise the integrity of the SRHC but also exposes a clear abuse of power.

7. Defiance of Established Regulations:

We possess irrefutable evidence in the form of video tapes and receipts issued by Mr. Abutu Kapori himself, that indicate his direct involvement in the harvesting and trading of commercial charcoal in clear contravention of the ban imposed by the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs and The Savannah Regional Coordinating Council. This blatant violation of established regulations highlights Mr. Kapori’s complete disregard for the rule of law and showcases his contempt to the well-being of our environment and the sustainable development of our region.

8. Violation of the Chieftaincy Act 2008 Act 759:

The actions of Abutu Kapori, as outlined above, represent an egregious breach of the Chieftaincy Act 2008 Act 759. This legislation was enacted to ensure the effective administration and promotion of good governance within our traditional institutions. However, Abutu Kapori’s actions do not only undermine the spirit of this important legislation but also undermine the very foundation of our traditional institutions, and erode public confidence in their integrity. His continued stay as Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council and the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs tarnishes the reputation of these esteemed institutions and hampers their ability to serve the best interests of the people.

Given the gravity of the infractions committed by Abutu Kapori all this while, we implore you to take immediate and decisive action. The citizens of Gonjaland demand the following:

a.The swift and unequivocal removal of Abutu Kapori from his position as the Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council and the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs is a crucial step in restoring public trust and ensuring the impartial and effective functioning of these institutions and this respectfully should be done with a space of two (2) weeks or else we would lock up the office and remain present at the office premises until we receive a new registrar.

b. We call on his royal majesty the Yagbonwura to initiate rigorous and transparent investigation of Mr. Abutu Kapori, Mr. Samed Abubakari aka Prince Gbanso, spokesperson for Buipewura Jinapor II, and others mentioned in a press conference on 18th May 2023 by Mr. Mahama Shaibu from the Wasipe traditional Area of sharing funds belonging to the SRHC. They must be invited to account, to the good people of this Kingdom, how the funds were used and also explain why the newly enskined Yagbonwura has not been notified about revenue being generated from charcoal in the name of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs. Mahama Shaibu himself must also be invited to respond to the audit committee. It is important to add that all 22 traditional areas should be called to give a fair explanation of where and how their revenue were used.

Moreover, we use this medium to urge the Yagbonwura to ensure thorough investigations into the financial activities of the Registrar’s office during Abutu Kapori’s tenure, to be able to advise the government appropriately on the fate of Abutu Kapori. These investigations should encompass the collection and management of royalties from various sectors, including cattle farming, logging, and mining. By conducting a comprehensive audit, you can uncover the extent of the financial misconduct and ensure that all ill-gotten gains are recovered and returned to the rightful beneficiaries.

Furthermore, we request that you implement stringent measures to prevent such abuses from occurring in the future. This can include revising the Terms of Reference for the registrar’s office to explicitly prohibit personal business dealings and strengthening financial oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

We emphasize that the citizens of Gonjaland are deeply involved in the proper administration of justice and the preservation of the integrity of our traditional institutions. We trust in your commitment to upholding the principles of fairness, accountability, and good governance.

c. We have also discovered that, one Adam Afuli who is acting as assistant Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council is supposed to be the Registrar of the Buipe Traditional Council and we demand that he moves to his rightful place of work, in order to avoid the tendency to usurp the authority of the Yagbonwura or the GTC by individual chiefs.

We kindly request your prompt response to this petition, indicating the actions that will be taken to address our concerns. Our collective faith in the integrity of our institution’s rests on the shoulders of those entrusted with their stewardship. We implore you to stand on the right side of justice and act decisively to rectify this grievous situation.

Thank you for your attention and unwavering commitment to serving the interests of the people.

Long live Gonjaland

Long live Ghana

Sincerely,

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SEIDU BRADISO MAHAMA

(SECRETARY)

TEL: 0551914850

ABDUL FATAWU MUSAH

(VICE PRESIDENT)

TEL:0242268094

SALIFU LUKMAN SOJA