Yilo Krobo Traditional Rulers Take Oath With Bible, Causes Frenzy on Social Media
- Some chiefs of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council were sworn in and gazetted to become legally recognised members of the Authority
- Images available on social media showed that the traditional rulers swore their oath with Bibles
- Social media users who saw the posts thronged the comment section to share their varied thoughts on the matter
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The Yilo Krobo Traditional Council inaugurated and gazetted seven chiefs as new members of the group at the Sra Palace in Somanya, Eastern Region.
The chiefs completed all the legal requirements before they were sworn in and gazetted. This is to reinforce the authority of the traditional rulers and recognise them under the law of Ghana.
Source: Facebook
A post on social media showed all seven chiefs who had been sworn in wearing traditional attire. The men traditionally wore cloth, and the women wore a kaba and a long skirt with beads.
During the swearing of the oath, all seven chiefs were holding Bibles in their hands. Many people on social media asked why the traditional rulers were swearing with Bibles instead of objects that relate to their worship.
The new members are: Nene Anyeenorgu Teye Agor IX - Divisional Chief of Okper, Asafoatse Tetteh Kofi Karikari III - Bunase- Odave, Asafoatse Kennetey Madjan II – Ogome, Asafoatse Bedu Opata Korley I – Nkurakan, Manye Maku Zuta - Divisional Queenmother of Bunase, Dademanye Kwao-Kuma Yohunor - Pleyo Okper, Dadematse Kwao Stephen Tetteh - Pleyo Okper.
Yilo Krobo chief explains the oath
Nene Anyeenorgu Teye Agor IX, one of the newly gazetted chiefs explained the process and why they used the Bible.
He however, said the use of the Bible does not mean they have ignored their traditional customs and practices.
"First of all, a person has to be selected or nominated and installed. The second stage is for the chief to swear an oath to his community using the sword, a sheep and a bottle of Schnapp. The third stage is for the chief to swear an oath to his superior chief using a sword, a sheep and Schnapp. The above stages are all customary or traditional, and that gives traditional recognition to a person as a chief in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area. All the chiefs captured in your story have undergone the above processes."
"Now, article 270 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana legally establishes the chieftaincy institution and its Traditional Councils. For a chief to have statutory authority, he must belong to the Traditional Council. However, a chief needs to be registered or gazetted with his name published in the National Register of Chiefs to belong to the Traditional Council," he added.
"Because the Traditional Council is a creation by law, any gazetted member would have to take a constitutional oath as set out in the First and Second Schedules of the 1992 constitution of Ghana, and that is exactly what transpired. The chiefs have at all times protected and defended our customs, traditions and constitution of the land."
Ghanaians react to chiefs swearing with Bible
YEN.com.gh collated some reactions to the post shared by The Ga-Dangme Kingdom on Facebook. Read them below:
Dadz Dadz said:
“Abeku Adams Ekumfi Holy Bible for traditional leaders haha.”
Nene Wan wrote:
“Are they coming to put good food on the table or the old food?”
Khalil Nii Sango said:
“Is that bible I'm seeing 👀? Has Yilo Klo lost its traditional values?”
Abena Yomley wrote:
“Kɛ biblo lmaoo😆😆😆mini sanɛ po jenɔ?”
Ofori Nyarko Nicholas said:
“What is going on here? Traditional people swearing with the Bible? 🤭🤭.”
Odehe Bi wrote:
“Traditional leaders swearing with a bible. Have you people ever seen Christians or Muslims swearing in a ceremony with even cowries or schnapps at all? What happened to the slaughter of animals and using schnapps to swear as traditionalists? And what’s that lawyer doing there? For what, actually? Shameless!!”
Mantse Street King said:
“Can someone explain the inclusion of the Holy bible by the traditional council, because first time seeing this.”
Iññøcènt Ñba wrote:
“How then does the inauguration process of the traditional council have to do with The Holy Bible. Swearing oath!”
Nana Qwesi Kotoa said:
“King David was a traditional leader, but he was worshipping God.”
Agyemang Duah Kweku Jr. wrote:
“🤭 The ancestors will be proud.”
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II dance Adowa
YEN.com.gh reported that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II danced Adowa to the dismay of the crowd at Prempeh I Airport when he returned from a trip abroad.
The Asantehene showed his appreciation through traditional hand and foot gestures during a rousing welcome in Kumasi.
Top officials and traditional leaders were present to welcome Otumfuo back home.
Source: YEN.com.gh
