Pressure is mounting on the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Solomon Brako Kusi, following his controversial river deity ritual over allegations of illegal mining, with two governance and policy experts calling on President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss him from office.
The latest calls come amid growing public debate over whether the MCE’s actions were compatible with the responsibilities of a public office holder and the constitutional principles governing local government administration.
Speaking on Onua TV’s weekend political programme Ka W’asem Yie, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy, Benjamin Nsiah, argued that the MCE had demonstrated a lack of confidence in Ghana’s justice system by resorting to traditional spiritual practices.
“If, as an MCE, you believe the justice system cannot give you justice but the spiritual system can, then you have no business occupying that office,” Mr. Nsiah stated.
He further urged President Mahama to remove the MCE from office, insisting that anyone who prefers spiritual avenues to constitutional institutions should not continue serving in public office.
“The President must sack the MCE for Birim Central and allow Nananom to give him a position where he can pursue spiritual justice. He simply does not deserve to be in that position,” he added.
Echoing similar concerns, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana and Senior Fellow at African Policy Lens, Dr. Hayford Mensah Ayerakwa, questioned the legality of the MCE’s actions and raised concerns over reports that the Municipal Assembly had allegedly collected money from suspected illegal miners.
According to Dr. Ayerakwa, local government bye-laws cannot override the laws of the country, stressing that public officials are required to operate strictly within the legal framework.
“As an MCE, your bye-laws must not negate the superior laws of the land. The MCE for Birim Central, Hon. Solomon Brako Kusi, does not deserve to be MCE and must be investigated for taking money from illegal miners and issuing receipts as fines. If found culpable, he should be sacked by the President,” he said.
The controversy stems from a viral live video that showed the MCE standing on the banks of a river in Akyem Oda performing what appeared to be a traditional ritual.
During the ceremony, he invoked the deities of several rivers and water bodies within the municipality, calling on them to punish the Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda, Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, should the MP’s allegations linking him to illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, prove to be false.
The incident immediately triggered widespread reactions across social media, with many people debating the appropriateness of a government official resorting to traditional spiritual rituals in response to political allegations.
The development also reignited discussions over whether the long-standing traditional prohibition against the invocation of curses within the Kotoku Traditional Area remains in force.
Critics argue that elected and appointed public officials should rely on constitutional institutions and the country’s judicial processes to resolve disputes rather than invoking traditional deities.
Despite the backlash, Hon. Solomon Brako Kusi has defended his conduct, insisting that his actions were intended solely to clear his name following allegations made against him.
In the widely circulated video, the MCE identified himself as a Christian but explained that he was introduced to traditional spiritual practices during his childhood. He subsequently called on the river gods to disgrace the Akyem Oda MP if the allegations made against him turned out to be false.
As public debate continues, attention is now turning to the Presidency and relevant state institutions to determine whether any official action will be taken over the MCE’s conduct and the allegations surrounding the incident.
By 1960news.com
