THE Daily Graphic edition of February 6, 2017 broke the news of another Ga Matnse being installed. According to the Daily Graphic story, kingmakers of Abola Piam We of the Ga state have installed a new Ga Mantse (Accra Chief) in the person of Nii Obli II whose installation happened on Saturday, February 4, 2017.
THE installation of Nii Obli II as Ga Mantse brings to four the number of Ga Mantses in the Ga state. The already three Ga Mantses who are laying claim to the Ga stool are King Tackie Tawiah II, Boni Nii Tackie Adama Latse and Dr. Tackie Abia.
AS it has always been the case and characteristic of such installations, the Abola Piam We has stressed that Nii Obli II is the true legitimate Ga Mantse, whose installation nullifies the other three. And Today will not be surprised if in the coming days, there are counters from the camps of the three claimants to the Ga stool to this latest development.
THE latest addition to the Ga Mantses will no doubt further deepen the confusion over who is the legitimate king of Ga state. The issue of installation of a Ga chief started following the death of Ga Mantse, Boni Nii Amugi II, in 2004. What it means therefore is that since the death of Nii Amugi II, Ga state has been battling with the issue of installation of a true Ga Mantse.
FOR us at Today, this Ga Mantse issue portends danger for the capital city—Accra. Why do we say so? The answer is simple. We have all seen how far chieftaincy issues can travel and to the extent of causing collateral damage.
RECENTLY, there were reports of gunshots at the Ga Mantse palace. What precipitated that was an attempt to induct Nii Adama Latse as the President of the Ga Traditional Council. That development has seen security beefed up at the palace ostensibly to prevent any further clash.
WHAT baffles us is the fact that the Ga Paramount Stool is unaware of this new Ga Mantse—Nii Obli II. The question we ask is: will this new Ga Mantse bring an end to this whole issue of the rightful heir to the Ga stool?
FOR us, we do not think so. Rather we believe it will aggravate this whole Ga Mantse issue and further prolong it. And if Abola Piam We thinks the matter has been settled with the installation of Nii Obli II then we advise them to rethink their position.
IN the estimation of Today, the way forward is not in the installation of more Ga Mantses. That approach will certainly not solve the problem. What we think will work for the Ga Paramount Stool is to bring together the four royal houses—Teiko Tsuru We, Abola Piam We, Amugi We and Tackie Kommey We—who the kingship rotates among—to deliberate holistically on the matter. Of course, this discussion should be led by government.
WE are sure that since the Ga traditional kingship is on rotational basis among these four royal houses, a roundtable discussion involving all the parties with government in the middle will help settle whatever scores there are. Government should understand that this is happening right under its nose and has the potential to disturb the peace of this country should it become something else.
IT is important that a lasting solution is found to the Ga chieftaincy impasse now before it degenerates into something nasty. We, therefore, urge government to take that bold step towards resolving this long-protracted chieftaincy matter.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
