‘Nii Adama Latse II is the only Ga Mantse’

The purported installation of Dr Kelvin Nii Tackie Abia Tackie as Ga Mantse has taken a dramatic turn, with the office of the Ga Paramount Stool disowning him.

According to a statement signed by the Stool Secretary, Niinabi Anyah Tackie-Yarboi, there already existed a Ga Mantse in the person of Boni Nii Tackie Adama Latse II.

Since then, it said, Nii Tackie Adama Latse had been performing his traditional duties without any hindrance whatsoever from any quarter.

Additionally, it said, Nii Tackie Adama Latse, who is also known in private life as George Tackie-Abia, was, on April 24, 2015, gazetted by the National House of Chiefs in the National Register of Chiefs as Paramount Chief and Ga Mantse in succession to the Late Ga Mantse, Nii Amugi II.

The statement, therefore, assured the general public that this year’s Homowo festival would be peacefully celebrated as there was no cause for alarm.

New Ga Mantse

The Dzasetse of the Ga State, Nii Dr Tetteh Kwei II, and the accredited heads and elders of the Ga Paramount Stool, known as Dzaase, last Sunday installed Dr Kelvin Nii Tackie Abia Tackie as the new Ga Mantse under the stool name, King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.

A statement signed by Ms Ananaa Annan, a member of the family, said before the final and colourful installation ceremony last Sunday, Dr Abia had on Friday been confined for three days.

Speaking at a ceremony to introduce the new Ga Mantse, Nii Dr Kwei, who is also the kingmaker, expressed satisfaction at the whole development and indicated that the uniqueness of the installation was the peaceful and proper procedural steps taken for the installation.

He said whoever was purported to occupy the stool today could not be accorded the status of a Ga King, since that person would not have been properly installed.

Installation fictitious

Meanwhile, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, has described the installation of the new chief as fictitious and an attempt to disturb the peace of the Ga community.

He said the new chief had not been listed in the records of the Regional House of Chiefs and the National House of Chiefs, who are the institutions that back the installation of a chief by law.

“We do not have any information about him and being the regional minister if one thinks he is doing the right thing, he should have informed my office because my office is in charge of almost everything that happens in the region rather than hide and not do things properly,” he said.

Nii Adama Latse I is King

Nii Agbo, who spoke to the Daily Graphic in an interview, said it was only Nii Adama Latse I, who was installed as the Ga Mantse after the demise of the disputed Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah II, who had legitimate claim to the paramountcy of the Ga State.

Therefore, he said, any individual or group of people who had any issue with the present traditional ruler should channel their grievances to the appropriate authorities.

“So if there is any individual who thinks he should have been the chief, he should battle it at the law court but not muddy the waters or disturb the peace that we have been enjoying for some time now,” he said.

Cross-check and investigations

Nii Agbo advised the general public as well as the various media houses to cross-check what he described as sensitive issues with the appropriate institutions before publishing them.

“They should find out and cross-check from the appropriate quarters whether whatever information they have been given is the right information or somebody is trying to put dust into their eyes so that we do not end up creating problems in our beautiful and peaceful country,” he said.

On what his administration was going to do about the situation, he said there was going to be a meeting with the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the National Security to find out the intent of the “new” chief.