Aowin Youth Condemn Traditional Council’s Banishment of MP, Demand Retraction
The youth and citizens of Aowin Municipality have strongly condemned the Aowin Traditional Council’s decision to banish Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aowin. At a press conference held in Enchi on February 12, 2025, they described the move as unconstitutional, politically motivated, and an abuse of traditional authority.
The Traditional Council, led by Beyeman Tano Kwaw Benbuen III, accused the MP of involvement in illegal mining (galamsey) and refusing to honor an invitation to the palace. However, the Concerned Youth of Aowin dismissed these claims, arguing that Hon. Larbi has consistently opposed galamsey and that certain chiefs—including Beyeman himself—are the real culprits.
The youth also condemned the planned ritual of slaughtering a sheep to reinforce the MP’s banishment, calling it outdated and unlawful. They stressed that Ghana’s Constitution does not permit traditional leaders to arbitrarily restrict any citizen’s movement, let alone an elected official.
Citing constitutional provisions, they declared the banishment null and void and called on President John Mahama and law enforcement agencies to intervene. They also demanded an immediate apology and retraction from the chiefs involved.
Additionally, the group accused the Traditional Council of consistently targeting political figures and public officials in Aowin, including the former Western North Regional Minister and local government authorities.
The Concerned Youth vowed to resist the banishment through peaceful protests if necessary, warning that they will not allow personal vendettas to undermine democracy and development in the municipality.
