The Konor of Manya Krobo
The President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, who is also the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II, has appealed to the government to return the historic Krobo Mountain to the Krobo people in the shortest possible time.
According to him, information reaching them indicated that the mountain was being partitioned and sold in parcels to private developers, contrary to the provisions of Article 20, subsections 5 and 6 of the 1992 Constitution.
Nene Sakite II, addressing a durbar during the Ngmayem festival, held at Odumase-Krobo, appealed to President Akufo-Addo to facilitate the return of the Krobo Mountain to the Krobo people.
‘’We want to take this opportunity once you are here with us today to let you know emphatically that we want our home back to us in the shortest possible time, as information reaching me indicates that the land is being partitioned and sold in parcels to private developers contrary to provisions in article 20 subsection 5 and 6 of the 1992 Constitution,” Nene Sakite II appealed.
The Krobo Mountain holds significant historical and spiritual importance for the Krobo people, serving as the first settlement for the Krobo people in the 17th century, following their separation from other Dangme groups in Lɔlɔvɔ.
The 1,108-foot-high mountain features a gorge that divides it into two unequal sections, providing ideal protection during a period of constant warfare. The Krobo people effectively defended themselves in wars by rolling boulders down the mountain, preventing enemy forces from advancing.
However, the colonial government viewed the mountain as a “Fetish mountain” and launched an attack against the Krobos in 1892 under the then-Governor Griffiths.
This attack involved the use of rockets and rifles, resulting in the destruction of shrines and the eviction of the Krobos from the mountain under the Native Customs Ordinance of 1892, in which the mountain was forcibly retained as state land.
However, the Krobo Chief, speaking under the theme “Development in Unity: Reviving Patriotism through Unification,” also issued a warning to individuals claiming to be chiefs and selling state-acquired lands in exchange for cars, stating that they must go through the proper customary process or risk losing their status.
On road, he said, “Our road network in the Odumase Krobo and its immediate municipality is a source of immense worry to me personally. Our road networks are in such a deplorable state of disrepair that urgent action needs to be taken to salvage the situation”.
He also appealed to investors to invest in the beads industry, arable lands as well as other sectors of the local economy to help create job opportunities for the youth, stressing “I believe that the huge potential in that regard remains untapped.”
President Akufo-Addo, in his response, assured that discussions about the restoration of ancestral lands to the Krobo people were ongoing, and expressed hope that they would be concluded soon.
“Discussion about the restoration of your ancestral lands are ongoing. I am hopeful they will be concluded soon,” President Akufo-Addo assured.
BY Daniel Bampoe