Madam Janet Egbe, a resident of Dzodze-Netsikorpe in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region, has declined to comment on allegations surrounding the installation of Adzevedu in the community, saying she has reported the matter to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
The development follows a petition submitted by Torgbi Hayibor II, the Divisional Chief of Dzodze-Netsikorpe, to the Duamenefa Foundation, seeking investigation and intervention into the alleged installation of Adzevedu without his knowledge.
According to the petition, the alleged installation caused fear among residents, prompting the traditional ruler to seek the intervention of the Foundation to investigate the circumstances surrounding the matter and address the concerns raised.
Following receipt of the petition, the Duamenefa Foundation launched an investigation into the allegations. The investigation is aimed at establishing the facts surrounding the matter and giving the parties involved an opportunity to present their respective sides.
As part of the investigation, the Foundation reached out to Madam Janet Egbe to give her an opportunity to respond to the allegations levelled against her.
During an interaction with the Executive President of the Duamenefa Foundation, Mr. Ketaman Emmanuel Evortepe, Madam Egbe said she was willing to speak on the matter but insisted that the engagement should take place at the CHRAJ office because she had already reported the matter to the Commission.
Mr. Evortepe subsequently asked Madam Egbe why she installed Adzevedu in the community without the knowledge of the traditional ruler, despite her position that she would not discuss the matter outside CHRAJ.
In response, Madam Egbe reportedly rejected the allegation that she failed to inform Torgbi Hayibor II before the installation.
She stated that the information presented to the Duamenefa Foundation by the traditional ruler that she had not informed him before installing Adzevedu was not true.
Madam Egbe reportedly maintained that she had duly informed the traditional ruler before the installation and said she had a recording to support her claim. However, she insisted that she could only present the recording and prove her position at the CHRAJ office.
Madam Egbe had reportedly lodged a complaint with CHRAJ alleging that Torgbi Hayibor II and Fafaa 100.3 FM had defamed her.
Mr. Evortepe explained to Madam Egbe that the matter she had taken to CHRAJ concerned alleged defamation and, according to him, did not prevent her from responding to the allegations concerning the reported installation of Adzevedu.
He explained that the Foundation was seeking her response as part of its investigation, particularly because the petition alleged that the situation had caused fear among residents of Dzodze-Netsikorpe.
Despite the explanation, Madam Egbe maintained that she would not speak further on the allegations outside CHRAJ and insisted that any further engagement should take place at the Commission. She allegedly ended the telephone conversation afterwards.
Mr. Ketaman Emmanuel Evortepe subsequently stated that the Duamenefa Foundation would follow the matter to the CHRAJ office and observe how the issue proceeds.
He further stated that under customary law, traditional rulers are the custodians of the land and that, by law, anyone seeking to bring Voodu into a community must obtain approval from the traditional ruler.
Mr. Evortepe said the Foundation’s continued involvement was aimed at ensuring that the concerns raised in the petition were properly examined and that the relevant parties were given the opportunity to be heard.
He added that the Foundation would continue to follow developments through the appropriate channels and cooperate with the relevant institutions handling the matter.
The Duamenefa Foundation’s investigation remains ongoing, while Madam Janet Egbe maintains that she informed the traditional ruler before the alleged installation and that she has evidence to support her claim, which she says she will present at CHRAJ.
The matter is a developing story, and the Duamenefa Foundation says it will continue its investigation while following developments concerning the complaint before CHRAJ.
The allegations made in the petition have not been independently established. Both sides have presented different accounts regarding whether the traditional ruler was informed before the alleged installation of Adzevedu, and the matter remains under investigation.
By Hutor Dziwornu, Fafaa 100.3 FM, Dzodze