POLITICS-Heavy police presence as Osu installs rival chief

Supporters of Nii Nortey Owuo III protesting the coronation while some members of the police detail look on. The atmosphere at Osu in Accra is very tense as a rival claimant to the Osu stool is penciled for coronation Monday afternoon. The ceremony has seen several scores of policemen deployed to supervise a peaceful event, however there are fears the coronation could degenerate into fighting as suporters of the sitting chief have vowed to resist it. They claim it is an installation of a new chief disguised as coronation, which is also tantamount to a taboo per Ga custom. Nii Nortey Owuo III has been Osu Mantse (Chief) for the past 25 years, however followers of Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona, who is being coronated, allege he is the rightful successor to the throne because Nii Nortey Owuo has been destooled. Mr. Lawrence Quist, spokesperson for Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona, told Joy FM the sitting chief has since 1986 been destooled and also warned by the Supreme Court to desist from holding himself out as the Osu Mantse. But the Osu Stool Secretary, Nii Okwei Nortey, told Myjoyonline.com that the Supreme Court on May 7, 2006, upheld Nii Nortey Owuo III's legitimacy as the Osu mantse. Story by Myjoyonline.com/Ghana