Some concerned youth in the Aowin constituency of the Western North region have condemned the banishment of their Member of Parliament by the traditional authorities.
According to the youth, their lawmaker, Oscar Ofori Larbi, is not guilty of the allegations being leveled against him by the traditional authority and should be rescinded.
In an address to the media Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the youth are rather accusing the paramount chief of engaging in the illegal mining allegation the legislator is being accused of.
The statement had also added that the lawmaker refused to attend to the invitation of the chiefs which has been stated as part of the reasons for his banishment.
Meanwhile, the youth contend their MP is not guilty of the allegations and want the chiefs to back down on their act, describing the slaughtering of a sheep to fortify his banishment as an act which is an affront to democratic governance.
Find below the full statement by the group:
PRESS RELEASE AND PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE YOUTH AND THE ENTIRE CITIZENRY OF AOWIN MUNICIPALITY ON THE CONDUCT OF THE AOWIN TRADITIONAL COUNCIL UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BEYEMAN TANO KWAW BENBUEN III
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, distinguished guests, and the good people of Aowin,
We, the youth and concerned citizens of Aowin, stand before you today to address the alarming and unlawful conduct of the Aowin Traditional Council under the leadership of Beyeman Tano Kwaw Benbuen III.
It has come to our attention that Beyeman Tano Kwaw Benbuen III and his council have taken a reckless and unconstitutional decision to banish Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi, Member of Parliament for Aowin, based on accusations of illegal mining (galamsey) and his refusal to attend their invitation to the palace. This action is not only an abuse of traditional authority but also a blatant violation of Ghana’s democratic principles.
We categorically state that Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi has not been found guilty of any crime. On the contrary, he has publicly denied involvement in galamsey and has, in fact, accused certain chiefs—including Beyeman himself—of engaging in this illegal activity. This banishment is clearly a politically motivated act of intimidation rather than a justifiable decision.
Furthermore, the threat to pour libation over a slaughtered sheep to reinforce the banishment is an outdated and unacceptable practice that has no place in modern governance. Such actions must be condemned in the strongest terms.
The Concerned Youth of Aowin Constituency strongly and unequivocally condemn this unlawful and arbitrary decision by the Aowin Traditional Council. This act, which has no legal basis, is a direct affront to democratic governance, the rule of law, and Ghana’s Constitution.
It is a matter of public record that some traditional authorities have been actively engaged in illegal mining (galamsey) for the past five years with reckless impunity. Their sudden hostility towards Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi stems from his commitment to ending their illegal operations, which continue to destroy our environment, pollute water bodies, and rob future generations of their inheritance. Unable to justify their unlawful actions, they have resorted to desperate measures—including curses, press conferences, and now this unconstitutional banishment.
We categorically state that Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi has never been involved in illegal mining. As a former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for eight years, he upheld a strong stance against environmental degradation, ensuring that no forests or water bodies were destroyed under his watch. Any attempt to link him to galamsey is nothing more than mischief and character assassination.
These attacks on Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi are not isolated incidents but part of a calculated vendetta. A similar witch-hunt was orchestrated against Hon. Rocky Jojo Obeng, the immediate past Western North Regional Minister, which contributed to Aowin’s lack of development.
Additionally, the individual leading these accusations has a history of attacking and cursing various officials, including:
The outgone Regional Minister
The Divisional Police Commander, Mr. Prempeh
Officials from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)
The Manager of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB)
The Aowin Municipal Coordinator
His actions raise serious concerns about his true intentions.
If curses were truly a tool for justice, then those responsible for the deaths of four individuals at the Omanhene’s palace should be the ones facing consequences—not our MP, who has always stood for the development and well-being of Aowin.
We remind the paramount chief and his sub-chiefs that Ghana is a democratic republic governed by the 1992 Constitution. While the Constitution recognizes the authority of traditional rulers, it also places clear limits on their powers.
The banishment of Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi is illegal, null, and void as it violates the following constitutional provisions:
1. Article 270(2) – Guarantees the institution of chieftaincy but does not grant chiefs absolute power to act outside the law.
2. Article 296(a) & (b) – Prohibits the arbitrary, capricious, or biased exercise of power. The so-called banishment is a clear abuse of authority.
3. Article 14(1) – Guarantees personal liberty, stating that no citizen shall be deprived of their freedom except in accordance with the law. The chiefs have no legal authority to restrict the movement of a sitting Member of Parliament.
This is not just an attack on our MP—it is an attack on the democratic will of the people of Aowin.
The sudden activism of the traditional authorities against galamsey is suspicious, given their silence between 2017 and 2024. If illegal mining was truly their concern, why did they remain silent for so long? Why did the Omanhene accept a car gift from galamseyers? Why did he form a task force, led by Nana Ntow, Chief of Nkwanta, to extort money from galamseyers?
The people of Aowin stand firmly behind Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi. His commitment to fighting illegal mining has been evident since he assumed office, a battle that nearly cost him his parliamentary seat. We assure him of our unwavering support and declare that should he contest again, he will have our full backing.
Additionally, we reject false claims that he is a “non-native.” Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi is a son of Aowin, married to a daughter of this land, and has significantly invested in its development. Any attempt to discredit his legitimacy is a deliberate act of deception.
We Demand an Immediate Apology and Retraction
We demand the following:
1. An immediate and unqualified apology from those behind this unlawful act.
2. A public retraction of the so-called banishment of Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi.
3. A cessation of all further attempts to tarnish the MP’s image or obstruct his lawful mandate.
Should these demands not be met with urgency, we will take necessary actions to resist this unlawful act, including massive demonstrations to express our opposition to this abuse of power.
Furthermore, if our respected chiefs wish to act as political agents of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) instead of neutral custodians of tradition, they should be prepared to face the full force of our democratic resistance.
Aowin is bleeding, and we call on all citizens to stand against this orchestrated attack on our hardworking MP.
We urge the government, the National House of Chiefs, regional and constituency executives, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to intervene and put a stop to this disgraceful display of lawlessness.
Ghana is governed by the rule of law—not by the whims of a few individuals exploiting traditional authority.
We will not relent until justice and fairness prevail.
Aowin deserves better!
Signed, by Afful Davidson Brew Leader of the group.
Contact,
0240442233, 0206889988.
Concerned Youth, Aowin Constituency
