The age-old chieftaincy tensions in the Avenor Traditional Area took a dramatic turn on Monday as the Chiefs and people of Atsiame Dukor, led by Torgbui Ablormetsi Kasu III, launched a fiery response to what they describe as “an affront to the chieftaincy institution” by Togbui Dorglo Anumah VI, Paramount Chief and President of the Avenor Traditional Council.
At a press conference convened in Atsiame, the leadership of Atsiame Traditional Area laid bare what they termed deliberate distortions, political interference, and sustained efforts to frustrate the legitimate elevation process of Torgbui Samlafo IV to Paramount Chief status—an elevation they insist has followed every due legal and traditional process, from Anlo to Ho to Kumasi.
> “The National House of Chiefs has spoken. Torgbui Samlafo IV has been invited to Kumasi for final deliberations. What then gives Togbui Dorglo the authority to call for a halt to this process?” questioned Torgbui Ablormetsi, who spoke passionately on behalf of the Chiefs and people of Atsiame.
A Political Powerplay or Legitimate Tradition?
At the heart of the matter lies a deeply contested narrative: while Togbui Dorglo insists the attempt to elevate Torgbui Samlafo IV is a political ploy backed by former Council of State Chairman Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho and the Awoamefia of Anlo, Torgbui Sri III, the Atsiame leadership maintains that Dorglo himself is playing politics—accusing him of dragging former President John Mahama into the matter during his speech on May 11 at the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly.
> “It is rather shameful that Torgbui Dorglo, who himself processed his gazette forms from the Anlo Traditional Council and paid homage to Torgbui Sri III, now turns around to reject Anlo’s authority,” said Torgbui Ablormetsi.
The response referenced multiple documents dating back to 2016 and 2022, showing that Torgbui Samlafo IV’s Chieftaincy Declaration (CD) forms and elevation letters were vetted and accepted by both the Volta Regional and National Houses of Chiefs. The chiefs allege that Torgbui Dorglo raised objections at every level—but was overruled due to lack of merit.
“Who Is the Real Usurper?”
In a scathing segment of the press conference, Atsiame Chiefs directly challenged Togbui Dorglo’s historical legitimacy, demanding clarity on his stool lineage, inconsistencies in his name in early colonial records, and the basis of his claim as the rightful paramount chief of Avenor.
> “We dare him to publish the history of his so-called stool. Who is Dorglo Kohi in the 1911 Gold Coast Chiefs List? Why the change in name? Why are members of the Kohi clan in court with him today
The tone grew even sharper as Torgbui Ablormetsi accused Togbui Dorglo of being “a stool-less chief” who has, for over a decade, sought to stifle the recognition of Torgbui Samlafo IV through intimidation and misinformation.
The Call for Civility and Constitutionality
The Atsiame leadership emphasized that the matter lies squarely within the confines of Ghana’s chieftaincy structures, not political corridors. Citing Article 272 of the 1992 Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act (Act 759), they warned against politicizing traditional affairs and labelled Torgbui Dorglo’s recent speech as “lawless and uncultured.”
> “We will not allow anyone—chief or politician—to hijack the future of Atsiame Traditional Area. This is not about power, but about legitimacy, tradition, and process,” Torgbui Ablormetsi declared.
The chiefs concluded their response by urging Torgbui Dorglo to appear before the sub-committee of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, where the matter is currently being examined. They reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful and lawful redress but warned that no amount of distortion or delay tactics would derail Torgbui Samlafo IV’s rightful elevation.
