Disquiet In Kumasi Zongo Communities- Court Stops Sarkin Zongo

 

There is disquiet in the Kumasi Zongo communities following the turbanning of a new Sarkin Zongo.

After the recent death of Alhaji Sultan Farouk, the Sarkin Zongo of the Ashanti Region, a process was reported to have been initiated for a replacement.

The process which included vetting of applicants culminated in the announcement of Alhaji Sidi Abdul Kadir as the new Sarkin Zongo of Kumasi.

In a development following the turbanning, a Kumasi High Court on Thursday, March 9, 2023 restrained the newly turbaned person from holding himself as Sarkin Zongo.

“It is hereby ordered that, the 1^st to 15^th defendants herein, either by themselves, their agents, assigns etc and all those acting for and on behalf are restrained from installing the 16^th defendant, Alhaji Sidi Abdul Kadir as Sarkin Zongo of Kumasi.

“It is further ordered that the 16^th defendant, Alhaji Sidi Abdul Kadir is also restrained from allowing himself to be installed as Sarkin Zongo of Kumasi or holding himself out or allowing himself to be held out as Sarkin Zongo of Kumasi,” said the court.

The interim injunction reads, “Upon reading the affidavit of Alhaji Mohammed Usman Mutawakil of Akwatia Line, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region of the Republic of Ghana, the Plaintiff/Applicant herein, sworn to and filed on 8^th day of March 2023 in support of motion Ex-Parte an order of Interim Injunction.”

In a related development, “the Council of Zongo Chiefs state categorically and unequivocally that we totally and completely dissociate ourselves from the recent appointment of a new Sarkin Zongo which hitherto we were even not consulted. We state emphatically that we are not part of the decision taken by the Hausa elders and we owe no allegiance to anybody who holds himself as Sarkin Zongo. This is purely Hausa affairs and the chief is Hausa no more,” the Council stated in a petition to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The petition, signed by Musah Akanbonga, Frafra Chief, President of the Council of Zongo Chiefs in the region; Alhaji Issaku Abdulmumin, Chief Gonja; Chief Azuma Ndagu, Kusasi Chief; Chief Ahmed Ibrahim, Wangara Chief and Chief Mohammed Abubanda, Banda Chief, pointed out that following the death of the last Sarkin Zongo, some Hausa elders without consultation turbaned a replacement on March 1, 2023.

Explaining, the petitioners told the Asante King that “for the records Zongo is made up a number tribes and each one having their own heads. The Sarkin Zongo is supposed to be selected and vetted with the input of all the tribal heads he is going to lead and not by a particular tribe to lord over the rest of us.”

The first Sarkin Zongo in Kumasi, Malam Maigida was turbaned in 1892 and reigned for seven years followed by Malam Gadi, 1889 to 1903, followed by Mallam Usmanu from 1903 to 1917, then Mallam Sallawu, 1919 to 1932, the man the British assigned some responsibilities. The last Sarkin Zongo who passed on recently, Alhaji Sultan Umar Farouk commenced office in 2010 and passing on February 23, 2023.

By A.R. Gomda

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