The Cherepo Traditional Council near Yeji in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region, under the leadership of Nana Twumasi Ankrah VIII, says fighting and gaining independence alone from the Yeji Traditional Council is a remarkable achievement that should never be underestimated.

He said there was a protracted land litigation between Yeji and Cherepo, of which the case was pending before the Sunyani High Court since 2014 for settlement.

Nana Twumasi Ankrah, who was speaking to “The New Trust” newspaper, said, “The Sunyani High Court, upon considering the facts and evidence before it, ruled in favour of Cherepo.”

According to Cherepohene, Yejihene, not satisfied with the outcome from the Sunyani High Court ruling, further made an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Kumasi, but the Court of Appeal reaffirmed the Sunyani High Court ruling in favour of Cherepo. Cherepohene recounted the ordeal his people have gone through as far as this litigation case is concerned.

He said the twelve-year protracted land litigation had affected the growth and progress of the Cherepo community, but he is not perturbed, as he will continue to do his best together with his sub-chiefs to accelerate development.

Nana Twumasi Ankrah VIII

According to Cherepohene, he was not surprised about the enthusiasm of his people thronging into streets expressing their joy and happiness when the courts finally pronounced the judgement.

He said that as a leader, “you must always be guided by the principles of fairness, neutrality, accommodation, impartial judgement, and above all, maintaining integrity.”These are my principles, and I’m not surprised when my people were seen in the principal streets of Cherepo and even Yeji itself singing and dancing as a form of solidarity and support to me when the courts pronounced the judgement,” he added.

In the recent child trafficking case that resurfaced at Cherepo, Cherepohene said he would not countenance any sort of illegal activity that could tarnish the good image of the town.

He said he personally rescued 11 children from trafficking and handed them over to the police and ensured that they were sponsored back to where they came from.

Cherepohene further made an appeal to the government to make financial allocations to the district assemblies, social welfare, and other relevant institutions to cater for child trafficking victims whenever the need arises.By:tntnewspaprgh.com