"l Know Non Other Than Sharikin Yahaya As Chief Of Elmina Zongo" - Teterem Odekrow Spill Out Following Chieftaincy Brouhaha

ERIC ANNAN Tuesday, August 23, 2022

[In Shot] Elmina Zongo Chief (in all white) together with Teterem Chief (Right), Elders and loved ones

Acting Chief of Teterem, a suburb of Elmina in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) constituency in the Central Region of Ghana, Abusuapanyin Kwamena Mensah who equally double as Putuhen for the Anona Royal Family of Teterkessim (Elmina) has categorically emphasized, he being the one who currently oversees the community and its environs of which the Elmina Zongo falls part, knows nobody else other than Salihu Yahaya to be the Chief (Sharikin) for the Zongo community.

Abusuapanyin Mensah made this statement after the royal family of Sharikin Yahaya on Saturday, 20th August presented him (Salihu Yahaya) who customarily has been chosen to rule over the good people of Elmina Zongo to the Chief and Elders of Teterem at their confinement (Teterkessim Palace) as tradition requires of them to do, having currently reside on the land of Teterem and hence submit to its throne.

The community which has for days now suffered the bitterness of chieftaincy upset is believed to have two chiefs currently, following Nana Kodwo Conduah Vl, Paramount of the Elmina Traditional Council's enactment of one Nana Musa Dawda lll as Chief of the Elmina Zongo Chief.

The Odekrow (Chief) who during the presentation of Sharikin Yahaya, having expressed his profound gratitude towards the Muslim community's effort of honouring tradition by customarily paying a courtesy visit to the palace to formally present their newly enacted chief equally took the opportunity to advise the new Zongo Chief to at all times thread on patience, as he cautioned the Chief to try all his possible means to serve as a mediator between his subjects no matter what, and should as well try to be Just and courageous in all his rulings.

[also present] Mr. Mohammed Alhassan, Dep. National Organizer & Western Regional Coordinator, Council of Zongo Chiefs

Speaking in an interview to Eric Annan after the ceremony, Abusuapanyin Mensah said "the Zongo community of Elmina has for years now submitted to the throne on Teterem, having been issued the land they currently due on by our elders somewhere 1959, who since day one have been very zealously and unselfishly devoted to the land by bringing a cow every year to be used as sacrifice to the throne, which's skin are periodically used in decorating the stool on which the Odekrow sits to indicate their submission under the supremacy of Teterem."

"The Muslim community due to its unavailability of having a chief of their own has for quiet some time now hindered them from being able to fully respond to certain royal calls by the palace, hence will commend them for managing in getting a chief for themselves which by so doing will well facilitate communication between them and the palace.

Currently there's no one l know of as Chief of the Zongo community other than Salihu Yahaya who has just been presented to me, because every chief enacted at Elmina Zongo as tradition demand ought to be presented to this palace first due to the fact that they presently resides on our land," Abusuapanyin Mensah notified.

Presentation of assorted drinks and water to Chief and Elders of Teterem as tradition demands

The Acting Chief who since the demise of Nana Buturnyen has been steering the affairs of Teterem later in his submission chide at how certain opportunistic Chiefs through their selfish gains cause mayhem amongst their subjects, as he took to the opportunity to passionately appeal to such Chiefs to desist from such conflict triggering behaviour.

Moreover, the new Zongo Chief, Sharikin Salihu Yahaya l of Elmina Zongo who addressed the press after his ceremonious presentation to the Chief and Elders of Teterem noted out his vision to the community as its new chief to be a unifier and an ambassador of peace who will see to it that there's clamness within his vicinity, coupled with proper and skilled training for the youth within his community to propel them become well fit for replacement should incase the leaders the land presently boost of are no more.

See ground pictures from the ceremony: