Asafoatse Lartey Bantama IV, a senior warlord of the Prampram Traditional Area, has launched a scathing attack on the embattled Paramount Chief, Nene Tetteh Wakah II, accusing him of poor leadership and failing to initiate a single developmental project in the area since his enstoolment in 2019.
Speaking in a recent interview, Asafoatse Bantama IV described the six-year tenure of Nene Tetteh Wakah II as deeply divisive and unproductive, alleging that his reign has done more harm than good to the people of Prampram.
“We have a chief who has contributed little or nothing to the development of Prampram but is always stoking division and conflict among the people. What kind of leadership is that?” he questioned.
His comments follow a reported summons from the Prampram Traditional Council over accusations of defaming the Paramount Chief in his public remarks.
Asafoatse Bantama defended his criticism, stating it was born out of frustration with the deepening divisions in the area under the current traditional leadership. He accused Nene Tetteh Wakah II and his allies of turning chieftaincy into a commercial enterprise, misusing proceeds from land sales and stool land royalties for personal gain rather than community development.
“Since I was enstooled as warlord of the Lapkle Division, which comes with no financial benefits, I have undertaken tangible projects, rehabilitating the main lorry terminal, providing water during shortages, and grading poor roads in both Prampram and Miotso. Where are the Paramount Chief’s achievements?” he asked.
He further expressed shock that despite the resources available to the Paramount Chief including income from land sales and donations from businesses, Nene Tetteh Wakah II has failed to deliver even a basic public toilet facility to the community.
On the long-running chieftaincy dispute in Prampram, Asafoatse Bantama claimed he once brokered a peace accord between Nene Tetteh Wakah II and the Paramount Stool Father, Numo Osabu Abbey IV, which was later undermined by the chief himself.
“I personally led efforts to restore peace between the factions, but Nene Tetteh Wakah wrecked that accord for his parochial interests. We cannot continue down this path, we are moving backward as a community,” he lamented.
He also raised doubts about the legitimacy of the Paramount Chief’s title, arguing that there has never been a predecessor with the name Nene Tetteh Wakah to warrant the “II” designation.
Asafoatse Bantama warned the Traditional Council against using his summons to spread fear or misinformation, cautioning that any attempts to intimidate him or escalate tensions would be met with fierce resistance.
Looking ahead to the annual Kpledzo Festival, scheduled for May 13, 2025, the warlord called for peace and unity. He urged the youth, particularly the Kple groups, to resist being used as agents of violence during the festivities.
“This year, I will increase the prize money for the best Kple group as part of my continued support for youth development. Let’s use the festival to unite, not divide,” he said.
Asafoatse Bantama’s bold statements have added new intensity to Prampram’s long-standing chieftaincy disputes, as the community prepares for one of its most significant traditional events.
