The three chiefs are Manyoro Pe, Pungu Pe, and Pindaa Pe.
At a joint press conference held in Navrongo, the kingmakers (kwarayigna), council of elders, the royal navro-pio family and siblings of the navro-pio had called for a halt to the processes, alleging the move was violation of established customary procedures.
They expressed deep concern over what they described as a unilateral move by the Navro-Pio, who is reported to have submitted a proposal to the National House of Chiefs in March 2025, seeking the elevation of the three chiefs, warning that the move risked igniting a full-blown chieftaincy crisis in the area.
The convenors of the press conference include Ing. David Basepe Adda, Acting Head of the Royal Adda Family, Mr. Batamanga Zimtiu, Acting Elder of the Bawiabia Clan, Mr. Wepia Achana, Elder and Kingmaker of the Yipugnia Clan, Dr. Terence Adda-Balinia, Representative of Siblings of Navro-Pio.
According to the stakeholders, the action disregards several formal petitions submitted since 2021 by key groups within the Navrongo Traditional Area, including the Council of Elders of the Navro-Pio’s Palace, the Kingmakers (Kwara Yigna), the Royal Navro-Pio family, and even siblings of the Navro-Pio.
The group said the various petitions raised issues of lack of consensus from key stakeholders, violations of traditional and customary procedures and processes, unresolved land and jurisdictional disputes and high risks of chieftaincy crisis.
“These issues require urgent resolutions before any elevations if necessary. Per the traditions and customary practices, the Navro-Pio does not have unilateral authority to take such decisions when key members of his Council of Elders hold dissenting opinions.
“Key members of the Council of Elders such as Bawiabu, Bagwebu and Yipugno have all kicked against the creation of the new paramountcies. The Chieftaincy structure of the Navrongo Traditional Area does not allow the Navro-Pio to take unilateral decisions without first building consensus with key members of the Council of Elders”, they added.
The group also alleged that three divisional chiefs within the Navrongo Traditional Area had also petitioned the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs to stop the elevation process, citing lack of consultation, failure to hold traditional council meetings since 2021, disregard for legal due process, and ongoing disputes over land boundaries.
“It is common knowledge that the country is currently battling with series of chieftaincy conflicts including the well-known Bawku chieftaincy crisis, Bolgatanga and most recently Nakpanduri in this part of the Country.
“We wish to respectfully state that, taking lessons from what is happening in Bawku, which used to be the business hub of the Upper East Region and other chieftaincy conflicts afflicted communities, we have seen the signs of early warnings signs , very visible, the alarm bells have started ringing and the signals clear, let those who have ears to hear and those who have eyes to see”, they added.
The group called on President John Dramani Mahama and other relevant stakeholders to intervene for the Navro Pio to stop the elevation process and avoid a chieftaincy crisis in the area.
When contacted, the office of the Navro Pio declined to comment on the issue.
GNA
