Ghana's Igbo Community Denies Link to Controversial Kingship Claim

 PUBLIC NOTICE:  IGBO COMMUNITY GHANA 

(REG. NO. G 37,697)

 

IGBO COMMUNITY GHANA STANDS WITH THE LAWS OF THE LAND OF GHANA

 

Introduction

 

The attention of Igbo Community Ghana, the umbrella body for all Igbo indigenes of Nigeria residing in Ghana and a constituent of the larger All Nigerian Community Ghana, has been drawn to the ongoing controversy surrounding the purported kingship and kingdom ambitions of one Mr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, who holds NO position in Igbo Community Ghana.

 

While we appreciate the timely intervention and stance taken by the Ga Traditional Council, we hereby wish to set the record straight with the following facts:

 

1. No connection with Igbo Community Ghana.

 

Igbo Community Ghana is a duly registered, well-structured entity with the National Leadership, Regional Leadership Board of Directors, Board of Patrons and Board of Trustees, and Mr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu is not part of the existing structure whatsoever.

 

2. No Kingship Endorsement

 

Igbo Community Ghana has never installed Mr. Ihenetu or any other individual as king of the Igbo people in Ghana. Kingship and kingdom establishment are not part of our constitution or objectives as a social welfare migrant community.

 

3. Response Since 2012

 

Since Mr. Ihenetu’s self-declared kingship ambitions began in 2012, Igbo Community Ghana has counseled him to desist and has taken both legal and social steps to distance our community from his actions.

 

4. Public Clarifications

 

We have formally written to:

 

• Nigeria High Commission Ghana

• All Nigerian Community Ghana

 

In those communications we stated clearly that Mr. Ihenetu does not represent our community and should not be recognised as such.

 

5. Media Alerts

 

In 2012, Chief Onyema Ndaraku, then leader of Igbo Community Ghana, went public, naming Mr. Ihenetu and Mr. Geoffrey Muokwugwo, in a warning, aired on GTV Ghana about the potential disruption of public peace. (See video clips)

 

6. Newspaper Publications

 

• Daily Graphic (Sept 12, 2012): Alert about self-inaugurations of Messrs. Ihenetu and Muokwugwo.

• Mr. Muokwugwo later renounced his kingship and now serves as Grand Patron of Igbo Community Ghana.

 

7. Incident Involving Armed Threat

 

In 2014, Mr. Samuel Ekezie, claiming sub-chief status under Mr. Ihenetu allegedly threatened violence at a child dedication event. He was arrested and prosecuted.

(See Daily Graphic, April 7, 2014)

 

8. Official Disclaimer

 

Daily Graphic (Dec 23, 2014): A disclaimer was published declaring that Igbo Community Ghana has no king and disavowing anyone claiming to represent our community in that capacity.

 

9. Legal Action in 2017

 

Igbo Community Ghana filed a court suit to:

 

• Stop Mr. Ihenetu’s events in our name

• Prevent him from parading as a king installed by our community

 

The court ruled that Mr. Ihenetu, Mr. Godwin Uche Anyaogu, and another should cease representing us.

(Suit No. GJ/1323/2017)

 

10. Further Public Disclaimers

 

• Daily Graphic (Sept 20, 2019, p. 35): Reaffirmed we have no king.

• Daily Graphic (Mar 25, 2022, p. 8): Warned public against dealing with impostors.

 

Ongoing Legal Cases

 

a. Suit against Mr. Kingsley Chinedu Igwe, who claimed sub-chief status under Mr. Ihenetu, seeking an injunction. (Suit No. E12/79/2022)

b. Circuit Court 9 case against All Nigerian Community Ghana over unconstitutional attempts to replace legitimate Igbo leadership with individuals loyal to Mr. Ihenetu. (Suit No. C11/16/2023)

 

Final Statement

 

Igbo Community Ghana has exhausted all peaceful and lawful avenues to dissuade Mr. Ihenetu from parading as the self-styled “Igbo King of Ghana.” His kingship project remains personal, unrecognised, and misaligned with our constitution. We affirm our commitment to Ghana’s laws and peaceful coexistence.

 

While Igbo Community Ghana does does not install kings and chiefs, our members who live all over the 16 regions of Ghana are encouraged to participate in social, developmental and humanitarian programs, projects and activities of their host communities and any recognition accorded them in their individual capacities in line with such should be appreciated and maintained within that host community's established and existing structure.

 

We of Igbo Community Ghana, once again, reiterate our commitment to sustaining and even improving upon the established peaceful coexistence and cordial relations that exist among Igbo people and our host communities in Ghana.

 

Directors: Emmanuel Chibuzor Ndubuisi : Geoffrey Nwoye Muokwugwo : Moses Edeh : Alexander Eke Chukwu 

 

cc.

a. All Nigerian Community Ghana.

b. Nigeria High Commission Ghana.

c.. Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria.