Ga Mantse is not Ga Mantse
The Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase (king makers) has rejected the purported induction of Dr Jo Blankson as the Ga Mantse by the Ga Traditional Council, saying it is not in conformity with Ga custom and the Chieftaincy Act of 1970 (Act 370) and, therefore, it is of no effect.
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It said while the purported enstoolment was presently a judicial issue before the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, the membership of the council which was purported to have performed the induction fell below the required quorum of two-thirds, as demanded by law.
Therefore, the Ga Paramount Dzaase described the induction of Dr Blankson as illegal and should be treated with the contempt it deserved.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Nii Yartey Otu-Ga II, Ga Dzaasetse, Mr Ebenezer Lartey, on behalf of the Nii Tackie-Kommey We, Nii Ayitey Osu III, the Head of Abota Piam, George W. Tackie, on behalf of the Teiko Tsuru We, and witnessed by Nunabi Anyali Tackie-Yarboi.
It said the Ga Dzaase was not involved in the said enstoolment, with the exception of the Ga Seitse and the head of the Teiko Tsuru We.
“The purported enstoolment, at present, is a judicial issue before the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, to which the said Ga Mantse objected and contested at the High Court in Accra where he was overruled and directed to appear before the House of Chiefs, with costs awarded against him,” the statement said.
It said the membership of the Ga Traditional Council as constituted at the moment and during the time of the induction was illegal, since the Chieftaincy Act gave the quorum for a meeting of the council as two-thirds of the entire membership.
However, the statement said, as reported by the Daily Graphic, the members of the council present during the induction fell short of the required number.
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Moreover, it said some of the chiefs who attended the said induction had doubtful status, since the matter pertaining to their chieftaincy status was the subject matter of controversy or litigation.
The Ga Paramount Dzaase, therefore, appealed to the government not to accord any recognition whatsoever to the purported induction of Dr Blankson as the Ga Mantse as reported in the media.
It said any such recognition would amount to the betrayal of the good people of the Ga-Dangme State and asked the people not to support such blatant disregard for their custom and heritage.
The Ga Traditional Council on Monday performed rites to signify the induction of King Tackie Tawiah into the fold of the council.
According to the traditional authorities, the ritual signified King Tackie Tawiah’s role as the undisputed King of the Ga State and he could therefore, occupy the palace and assume the presidency of the council.
The ceremony was said to have been witnessed by some members of the council, including the acting President and Sempe Mantse, Nii Adotey Obuor, the Ngleshie Alata Mantse, Nii Kojo Ababio V, the Osu Mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo II, the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjetey Kraku II, and the Nungua Mantse, King Odaifio Wulentsi III