By Alex Ababio
The Acting Chief of the Ashanti Regional Butchers Association, Abdul Wahabu Tikumah has debunked claim by the Sari Zongo , Sultan Umar Farouk that he has the power to enskin the next Chief Butcher of the Ashanti , describing it as unfounded,untruthful , unacceptable and shows clearly , his disregard for authority.
He has therefore called on all butchers in the Ashanti region to disregard the declaration of Alhaji Muntari Bature as the next Chief Butcher of the Ashanti Region , by the Sariki Zongo.
He stressed that Kumasi Abattoir is a business community and quickly insisted that it was not an appendage of Zongo community leadership with a traditional succession where Zongo Chief selects a Chief Butcher.
“No assets machinery or equipment at the Kumasi Abattoir Company limited is owned by the Zongo Community.Every piece of machinery at the Abattoir is owned by the collective efforts of butchers who consist of various ethnic groups including , the Asantes ,Dagombas, Frafras ,Burundi,Hausa,
Gawo,amongst other groups”
“Talking about tradition and customs ,where in the history of the Butchers Association of the Ashanti Region has the Zongo Chief ever selected a Chief Butcher .Chief Butchers have always been selected by butchers consisting of the various ethnic groups at the Kumasi Abattoir Company limited since time immemorial”
Chief Abdul Wahabu Tikumah made this statement at a press conference by the leaders and elders of the various Ethnic groups of Kumasi Abattoir Company limited and concerned Butchers Association of the Ashanti region at Kaase in Kumasi.
The press conference was in reaction to the Sariki Zongo , Sultan Umar Farouk and a group of Zongo community elders who on the 15th of May 2020 at a press briefing at his palace at Yalwa where he publicly declared Alhaji Muntari Nature as the next Chief Butcher of the Ashanti Region .
According to Chief Abdul Wahabu Tikumah at the said press briefing ,the Sariki Zongo Sultan Umar Farouk allegedly named Alhaji Muntari Bature to succeed the late Chief Butcher , Alhaji Musa Bawa Tanko who passed on October 3rd last year.
He stated that Sariki Zongo Sultan Umar Farouk mentioned that his decision was necessary to protect and preserve the tradition and customs of their great grandfathers and the Zongo Community.
According to Chief Abdul Wahabu Tikumah it was unfounded for Sariki Zongo Sultan Umar Farouk to have stated that His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II ,the Asatehene had entrusted the Sariki Zongo , the various Zongo Chiefs in the past few years to handle all traditional maters of the Zongo Community and for that matter it is only Tradition and customs that they regard and that renders Alhaji Muntari Bature as legitimate heir to succeed the late Chief Butcher.
“On the issue of tradition and custom again , we all know that His Royal Majesty ,the Asantehene Osei Tutu II speaks publicly .Where in history has the Asantehene , Nana Osei Tutu II ever adjudicated on an issue of regional importance involving several parties in a closed meeting with only a fraction of the parties involved ? Especially when the issue at hand was referred to the Regional Security Council to set a committee of Inquiry to investigate the matter on December ,20 last year.
He stressed that the findings of the Committee set up by the Regional Security Council hasn’t been declared yet but the Sariki Zongo had clearly shown disregard to both the Asantehene and , Otumfuo Osei Tutu II , National Butcher , the Regional Minister and the Regional Security Council’s directive that both parties involved in the dispute should exercise patience while they await the committee of Inquiry’s finding.
On his part , President of National Butchers Association, Chief Alhaji Zakari Soto, has categorically stated that the National Executive Council of the Butchers Association has kicked against the claim that Sariki Zongo has been giving Authority to appoint a Ashanti regional Chief Butcher with the mandate from Otumfuo , His Royal Majesty the Asantehene , and will present him to the Kumasi Abattoir Company limited .
He stressed that Butchers Association with all its Regional Unions , is a professional Body , registered with the Department of Cooperatives since 1962 , and has a Constitution , which guides its corporate conduct as a legal body.
“We respect the Chief Zongo as a leader of the Zongo Community, he but he has no mandate or right to appoint a Chief Butcher for members of the Association in Kumasi; it has never been done in any region in the country , since that mandate rests in the bosom of the members of the Association themselves as by law established.”