Some aggrieved members of Klefe-Demete Division of Klefe Traditional Area with support from the Asafo-fia, Togbe Hosi have called on the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu and the Regional Security Council to immediately intervene and stop their Paramount Chief Togbe Dzaga from carrying out what they say an illegal traditional funeral and burial of Demete Divisional Chief, Togbe Yao Baker who died in 2022.
Following agitations as to who is the rightful clan to plan the funeral and burial ceremony of the late chief, which led to threats from the two factions- the Asafofia (Warlord) faction and the Zikpuitor faction.
As law abiding citizens and also following the refusal by the Zikpuitor (stoolfather) and Head of Saka family to heed to the advice not to spearhead the funeral rites and burial of the late Divisional chief, the Asafofia faction filed a writ in the Ho High Court to restrain them from going on with the traditional activity.
Speaking exclusively with 3news after the Ho High Court had placed an injunction restraining the head of Saka family and the Zikpuitor, Charles Agbezuge from further funeral activities of the late Divisional chief until the case is determined by the court, which was adjourned to next month, 12th May, they also received a penal notice to that effect.
“Please take notice that counsel for and on behalf of the plaintiffs have hereby served a penal notice to the effect that plaintiffs would seek the intervention of the High Court for an order of committal to imprison you Zikpuitor and any other persons claiming through you, for the disobedience of the pendency of the motion for order of interlocutory injunction and mandatory injunction of the honourable High Court in Ho”.
The above penal notice according to the Asafofia’s faction should have put matters to rest until the final adjudication but accordingly, the Paramount chief Togbe Dzaga who was in court that faithful day of 15th April, 2025 ordered that the late Divisional chief, Togbe Yao Saka be buried without fear or favour as he defied the High Court orders served to Zikpuitor Agbezuge.
The Paramount Chief who was not a party to the suit claimed he was not served with the motion of injunction and penal notice and that he would carry on with the funeral and burial of the late chief which currently has created tension in the Klefe township likely to explode if immediate steps are not taken by the regional security Council to avert possible unrest situation.
A spokesperson for the Agbodei family Bruce Agbete who are purported to be responsible for the planning of the funeral and burial of the late chief blamed the situation on one Samuel Domprey who he said is an “alien and has no locus in Klefe traditional matters yet has been allowed by the Paramount Chief Togbe Dzaga to dictate affairs in the traditional area” saying “nothing can stop the Paramount chief from burying his Divisional chief irrespective of whatever injunction”.
Mr. Agbete called for quick intervention by the powers that be to help avert any possible catastrophe in Klefe-Demete and the entire traditional area.
An elder from the Zikpuitor Charles Agbezuge’s camp who wants to remain anonymous said the action by the stool father with support from the Paramount Chief is purely traditional inclined and he believes it’s the Paramount Chief’s right to delegate any of his subjects to plan the funeral and burial of any dead chief.
The Zikpuitor and his followers and the Paramount Chief have not violated any traditional law and should be allowed to perform what is legitimately under his strength as a big chief.
Meanwhile, the Volta Regional Minister James Gunu has positively responded to the appeal from the Asafo-fia of Demete Division to intervene and allow justice to prevail. He assured them of summoning an immediate REGSEC meeting to find solution to the traditional differences in Klefe traditional area.
In an attempt to hear from the Paramount chief Togbe Dzaga did not yield the needed results, a text message to him went through but he never replied.
