By Benjamin A. Commey
Accra, June 24, GNA – Nii Yaotey Oto Ga II, the Dzasetse of the Ga Paramount Stool, has called on the National House of Chiefs to immediately restore the name of Nii Tackie Adama Latse II into the national register of chiefs as the Ga Mantse, to ensure justice and peace.
This follows a Court of Appeal order on June 12, which ordered the National House of Chiefs, Kumasi, to restore Nii Tackie Adama Latse II to the national register of chiefs within 14 days.
The Court’s decision, which was an affirmation of a high court order in November 2021, held that the National House of Chiefs, Kumasi, removed Nii Latse II’s name from the register without any evidence that he had been validly destooled, a prerequisite for removing a chief’s name from the national register.
The National House of Chiefs has since filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, asking the apex court of the land to quash the ruling of both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Nii Yaotey Oto Ga, in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Theophilus Kingsley Quartey, Deputy Secretary, Ga Dzasetse, at a news conference in Accra on Monday, expressed surprise and shock at the decision and stance taken by the National House of Chiefs, which he said were a violation of the 1992 Constitution that established the House.
“To say the least, this development is shocking to the Dzase and generally embarrassing since under Article 270(3)(b) of the 1992 Constitution, the National House of Chiefs is mandated to establish and operate a procedure for the registration of chiefs and the public notification in the Gazette or otherwise of the state of persons as chiefs in Ghana,” he said.
He explained that per the customs and traditions of the Ga State, Nii Latse II was properly installed in 2011, after the seat became vacant following the demise of Boni Nii Amugi II, Ga Mantse, in 2004.
He noted that due to protracted chieftaincy disputes, it was not until April 24, 2015, that Nii Latse II was gazetted by the National House of Chiefs as the “legitimate” Ga Mantse after the process had gone through the Ga Traditional Council and the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs.
“On 17th October, 2017, King Tackie Adama Latse II was admitted into membership of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs,” he said.
Nii Yaotey Ga, therefore, described the subsequent installation of King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II as Ga Mantse “unlawful.”
He said the decision by the National House of Chiefs to take a position on the matter instead of playing its “referee” role was questionable, urging the House to uphold the rule of law.
“We believe that the National House of Chiefs is made up of well-established lawyers and judges who believe in the Rule of Law and will stand up to be counted and graciously appeal to them for the withdrawal of the process from both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court,” he added.
The Dzasetse called on Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, to intervene in the ongoing dispute to ensure justice and peace were upheld in the Ga State.
While urging the people of the Ga State to remain resolute, he admonished them to be calm to ensure a continued peace.
Naa Ode Adenku I, Development Queen of Akanmaje Traditional Area, in a speech read on behalf of the Coalition of Ga Queen Mothers, appealed to queens and the youth to avoid taking sides in the ongoing impasse to prevent confusion.
“We need peace, unity and stability, and not chaos and fights,” she said, adding: “Some queen mothers who have taken it upon themselves to trade insults and engage in promoting fight must desist from that behaviour and rather pursue and ensure peace.”
“Let’s put all bickering, insults and attacks aside, and let’s foster unity,” she appealed.
GNA
Agnes Boye-Doe