The Judicial Committee of Ghana’s National House of Chiefs has brought a long-running chieftaincy dispute in Bunkpurugu to a close, ruling that the Jamong family is the only recognised royal family entitled to provide candidates for the Bunkpurugu skin.
In an 83-page judgment, the Judicial Committee dismissed appeals filed by the respondents and upheld a cross-appeal by the petitioners, while varying parts of an earlier decision of the Judicial Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs.
The committee concluded that evidence presented during the proceedings did not support claims that succession to the Bunkpurugu skin rotates among the Jamong, Jafok and Nampauk families.
It held that documentary evidence relied upon during the appeal established that the Jamong family is the only royal family in Bunkpurugu and rejected findings suggesting that the Jafok and Nampauk families also possess royal status.
The Judicial Committee also rejected findings that Lambong Tapang of the Jafok family was a legitimate Bunkpurugu chief.
According to the ruling, evidence on record showed that Lambong Tapang served only as a caretaker chief between 1986 and 2005 and was not entitled to the status of a substantive Bunkpurugu Naba.
The committee further found no evidence that the Jamong family had recognised Lambong Tapang’s claim to the skin by participating in his funeral or acknowledging his status as chief.
As part of its final orders, the Judicial Committee directed the head and elders of the Jamong family to nominate an eligible candidate or candidates from the family for presentation to the Nayiri for selection and enskinment as Bunkpurugu Naba.
It also ordered the second respondent to hand over all skin regalia and other properties in his possession to the Nayiri.
Additionally, the committee restrained the second respondent from holding himself out, or allowing himself to be presented, as the Bunkpurugu Naba unless the order is set aside by a competent judicial authority.
The Judicial Committee awarded costs of GH¢150,000 against the respondents in favour of the petitioners, bringing the appeal proceedings to a close.
The decision is expected to have significant implications for the resolution of the longstanding succession dispute in Bunkpurugu and provide a legal framework for the installation of a substantive chief in accordance with the customs recognised by the National House of Chiefs.
Below is the judgement document
