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Gertrude Torkornoo transfers Bunkpurugu chieftaincy case to Tamale
•2 min read•1 source
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has approved the transfer of a significant chieftaincy dispute involving the Bunkpurugu traditional area from the Nalerigu High Court to the High Court in Tamale. This decision follows urgent petitions from the defendants who cited grave security concerns and the threat of physical harm if they were required to attend proceedings in the North East Region's capital. The judicial move is intended to safeguard the lives of those involved and ensure the legal process continues without the shadow of impending violence.
The request for the change of venue was spearheaded by one of the defendants, Elijah Saan, who expressed profound fears for his safety and that of his associates. According to the defendants, credible intelligence indicated that traveling to Nalerigu for the scheduled hearing on October 23, 2026, would expose them to orchestrated attacks. These fears are rooted in the volatile atmosphere surrounding the contested enskinment of Melchizedek Musah Jamung as the chief of Bunkpurugu, an event that has already triggered episodes of violence and resulted in several casualties.
Tensions in the region remain high as various royal families engage in legal and traditional battles over the Bunkpurugu skin. In a related development, the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area has initiated legal action of his own, filing an application for contempt of court against several individuals linked to the recent enskinment. By moving the primary case to the Northern Regional capital of Tamale, the Chief Justice aims to provide a neutral and more secure environment for all parties, mitigating the risk of further communal clashes while the court adjudicates the complex ownership and succession claims.
