Ga Mantse commends Bawumia for proposing solutions to Ga State challenges

The Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II, has expressed his appreciation to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for recognising the challenges faced by the Ga State and proposing practical solutions to address them. 

The commendation was made during a courtesy call by Dr. Bawumia to the Ga Mantse and the Ga Traditional Council at the Ga Mantse’s Palace in Accra on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

Dr Bawumia, who is the Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), outlined his vision for addressing the unique difficulties faced by the Ga State, which hosts Ghana’s capital, Accra.

He emphasised the disadvantages that come with hosting the capital city, including land scarcity, limited access to educational opportunities, and a decline in the Ga language.

“The Ga State hosts the capital of Ghana. Because of that, the rest of Ghana is here, which has implications for the Ga State, which we have to take account of in policy,” Dr. Bawumia stated. 

He noted that the high demand for land in Accra has made it unaffordable for many indigenous people and acknowledged the pressure on schools and job opportunities due to the city’s cosmopolitan nature.

Dr. Bawumia also stressed the urgent need to preserve the Ga language. “Most of us who are here can survive without speaking Ga. So that leads to a decline in the language. We have to make sure that Ga is taught in our schools to protect the language. Otherwise, it is going to be very costly,” he added.

In response, the Ga Mantse lauded Dr Bawumia’s efforts to identify and address these longstanding issues. “As the occupant of the Ga Paramount stool, the custodian of Ga culture and tradition, I want to say, and just like you rightly said, that hosting the capital has not been easy, so we thank you that you have thought about solutions,” Nii Teiko Tsuru II remarked.

He further stated, “Accra has serious problems and needs serious people to solve these problems. We are in line and in link with your solutions. Let’s get them by. Come December 7, if Ghanaians give you the nod, we want a social contract with the Ga people. We want that.”

The Ga Mantse also called for the inclusion of Ga and Dangme indigenes in Dr. Bawumia’s potential government to ensure the preservation of the region’s culture and identity. 

“We believe that our ethnicity is dying, our language is almost erased like you said. Solutions to enforce GES bylaws that Ga and Dangbe are taught in this locality is on you. You have promised it, and if you get the mandate, we want to see it,” he added.

On the upcoming 2024 elections, the Ga Mantse appealed for a peaceful process, urging all stakeholders to work towards ensuring harmony before, during, and after the elections for the benefit of the nation.