Sampa Chiefs to Mahama
Traditional leaders from the Sampa Traditional Area have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law in resolving the ongoing chieftaincy dispute in the community.
The call was made during a press briefing held at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
According to the traditional leaders, Nana Samgba Gyaflaa II emerged as the Paramount Chief of Sampa following a traditional arbitration process led by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene. They noted that the chief has since been duly gazetted under Ghana’s laws, a process they say confers legal recognition and legitimacy.
The leaders explained that gazetting is not merely a ceremonial act but a statutory process that affirms the legitimacy of a chief under the Constitution and the country’s chieftaincy laws.
“Gazetting is not ceremonial. It is legal recognition by the Republic of Ghana, and it means the state recognizes and protects that chief,” they stated.
Despite this legal recognition, the leaders said resistance from opposing factions continues to threaten peace in the Sampa Traditional Area.
According to them, refusal by some groups to accept the authority of the gazetted chief has created tensions in the community, leading to threats and reported acts of violence.
The Nananom reminded the President of his earlier public position on the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy conflict, where government indicated it would engage only with gazetted chiefs in efforts to resolve the dispute.
“That statement gave us hope. We respectfully ask that the same principle be applied in Sampa,” the leaders said.
They stressed that consistent application of the law across the country is essential to maintaining public confidence in state institutions.
The leaders further noted that Nana Samgba Gyaflaa II has consistently relied on lawful and peaceful avenues to address the dispute and has shown restraint despite ongoing provocations.
However, they cautioned that restraint alone cannot sustain peace if the state fails to enforce its own laws.
The traditional authorities therefore urged President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that the authority of the gazetted chief is fully respected and protected in order to restore stability and lasting peace in Sampa.
