The Buipewura Jinapor II, Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Council in the Savannah Region was last Friday elected as the Vice President of Ghana’s National House of Chiefs in Kumasi.
The Buipewura won the Vice-Presidential position by beating his three other contenders by polling 54 votes out of a total of 72, whilst Nangodi Naaba had 4 votes, Okotwasuo also had 6 votes and Nana Soglo Alloh IV polled 9 votes in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission. Sefwi
Meanwhile, the incumbent President of the National House of Chiefs, Sefwi Anhwiasohene Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, has been retained as the President of the house after securing 42 votes and winning overwhelmingly against the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeayo Agyemang Badu II who garnered 30 votes.
Establishment
The National House of Chiefs is established by Article 274 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 1 (1) of the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759. The House derives its Mandate from Article 271 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 1 of the Chieftaincy Act 2008 Act 759.
The National House of Chiefs exists to exercise appellate jurisdiction in any cause on matters affecting chieftaincy which has been determined by the Regional House of Chiefs in a region. The House under Article 273 (5) of the 1992 Constitution also exercises original jurisdiction in certain causes or matters affecting chieftaincy.
Buipewura Jinapor II as the vice president of the National House of Chiefs in Ghana has several roles, including the Research and Traditional Affairs Committee of the house.
The vice president of the National House of Chiefs, along with the President also directs the affairs of the National House of Chiefs.
Brief profile of Buipewura
Buipewura Jinapor II was born on Tuesday, 6th April 1948 to the Great Jira Buipewura Chilipulima I, son of Buipewura Jinapor I, and Kewurche Meyama Ayuwa of blessed memory.
Jira Buipewura Jinapor II, known in his private life as Mahama Abdulai Jinapor, is a pioneering beneficiary of colonial education at East Gonja – Salaga where he attained stanza 4 (sixth Form).
Immediately after completion, he taught Damongo, present-day Kurabaso JHS and Gindabor respectively, which the current Kongwura Jinkuriga I Paramount chief of Kong Traditional Area is a proud student of Buipewura Jinapor II.
While Buipewura Jinapor II was impacting knowledge, he also discovered Madam Alice Azara Achulo a lifetime partner whom God has blessed them with five children.
In his diversity to explore humanity, in early 1969 Buipewura Jinapor II ventured into politics and became Wenchi West party secretary and later became secretary and personal aid to Former president Dr. K.A Busia.
In fulfilling his childhood passion and ambition, in the early 1970s, Buipewura Jinapor II joined the Ghana Police Service, where he rosed through the ranks and file of the service and retired as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
Buipewura Jinapor II Served the Ghana Police Service for 39 years. While in service as a young Prince, his passion for tradition and chieftaincy wasn’t abdicated thus, In the late 1980’s he was first enskined as Gbemasewura, few years later he ascended to Salimanwura in 1992 and finally rose to the highest skins of his paramountcy as Buipewura Jinapor II.
Enskinment
On Friday, 13th June, 2008 he was enskined as the paramount chief of Buipe Traditional Area. He is currently 16 years on the Buipe throne and still reigning.
Per the 1930 Constitution of the Gonja Kingdom, the Buipe-wura, who is not a divisional chief is most revered, honoured and highly respected in the Gonja Traditional Area. The reason is that he is the customary and traditional father of the YAGBON[1]WURA, and therefore in rank Buipe-Wura is placed on the same level as the YAGBON-WURA.
His town is Buipe, where the royal mausoleum for NDEWURA JAKPA is situated and the Buipe-wura is the caretaker of the royal Burial Grounds.
It will be noticed that the BUIPE-WURA is the Traditional president of the Gonja State Executive Council, on the deceased of a reigning YAGBON-WIRA they have to choose a new paramount chief from among the seven members of the State Executive Council, over which the KAGBAPE-WURA presides in the absence of the BUIPE-WURA.
When the nomination of the YAGBONG-WURA elect is accomplished the said Council conveys the decision to the Buipe-Wura by the Kagbape-wura. The Buipewura has no option to reject by customary practice and usage of the Gonjas.
The Buipewura has the traditional right to confirm the election of YAGBON-WURA but the Buipe-wura and the YAGBON-WURA are by custom never to meet face to face, thereafter the installation of the YAGBON-WURA.
This taboo was once broken when the Buipewura, who was then old and blind, caused great astonishment when he unavoidably attended the Yapei Enquiry into the constitution and organization of the NGBANYE kingdom, held in 1930.
At this meeting he was careful to sit as far away as possible from the YAGBON-WURA and when he rose to give evidence, even though blind, a large cloth was held in his left side so that the YAGBON-WURA could not look at him or see each other throughout the conference.
The reason for this taboo is that morally there are customs to pay homage and give reverence to each other on equal terms and conditions; but to avoid these, custom prohibits them from meeting in person in any occasion. The custom continues to the present day in Gonja.
PORTFOLIOS & CAREER OF BUIPEWURA JINAPOR II
1. Classroom Teacher 1967
2. Ghana Police Service 1970
3. Over three decades as Traditional leader/ruler
4. Over a decade as a Member of the National House of Chiefs standing committee
6. Chairman of Eminent chiefs-SRHC
7. Immediate past Vice President of SRHC
8. President of Buipe Traditional Council etc
Jira Buipewura Jinapor II has five (5) children of whom some are scholars in academia, law, business and politics.
He is the father of the history-making Jinapor brothers in Ghana’s respected Parliament. John Abdulai Jinapor MP for Yapei/Kusawgu and Lawyer Samuel Abdulai Jinapor MP, Damongo Constituency and Minister For Lands and Natural Resources.
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