By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Nungua, Dec. 12, GNA — The Nungua Traditional Council has rejected what it described as growing attempts to centralise authority over the historically autonomous Ga towns.
It warned that such actions would threaten peace, dignity, and constitutional order within the Ga Traditional Area.
The council stated this at a press conference led by Nii Borteyfio Borteykwei Afadi-Nsro I, Nungua Nkpor Chief.
It noted that recent public claims and petitions emerging from Ga Mashie circles pointed to a coordinated effort to elevate the Ga Mashie Mantse to the position of “Overlord of the Ga State”, with authority over all restored and newly elevated Paramount Chiefs.
The Council cited a formal petition submitted by the solicitors of the Ga Mashie Mantse to the National House of Chiefs seeking amendments to L.I. 2409 to establish such an overlordship, noting that if approved, the amendment would impose a centralised hierarchy contradictory to long-established Ga customary, traditional, and political structures.
Referencing the 2011 Sub-Committee Report of the National House of Chiefs on the elevation of 12 stools, the Council emphasised that Ga-speaking people constituted seven distinct, historically self-governing political entities, namely: Tema, Nungua, Teshie, Osu, La, Ga Mashie and James Town (Ngleshie Alata).
The report, it indicated, clearly stated that these towns “owe no customary allegiance to the Ga Mantse” and were placed within the Ga Traditional Council solely for administrative convenience, not due to a subordination relationship.
According to the Nungua Traditional Council, historical accounts and the National House of Chiefs Report further affirmed that towns such as Nungua, Osu, Teshie, La, and Tema existed as independent political republics with their own governance systems, adding that while cooperation existed in areas such as warfare and shared spiritual responsibilities, no political hierarchy placed Ga Mashie above the others.
The council noted that the sub-committee found the title “Ga Mantse” to be misleading since it created the erroneous impression of a paramountcy over all Ga-speaking towns, although in customary terms the Ga Mantse is the Paramount Chief of Ga Mashie alone.
It also cited portions of the 2011 Report recommending the restoration of six stools; Tema, Teshie, Nungua, La, Osu and James Town (Ngleshie Alata) – to their original paramountcy status, with their Mantsemei (chiefs) admitted to the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs in their own right, alongside the Ga Mashie Mantse.
It added that the Committee further stated that it could not recommend the Ga Mantse as overlord of the various Ga Paramount Chiefs.
The Nungua Traditional Council additionally highlighted historical settlement patterns, stating that Nungua was the earliest settler community within the geographical area, administering the lands later occupied by other Ga towns and granting portions to facilitate their establishment.
On that basis, the Council said, any argument for precedence based on historical settlement would favour Nungua, not Ga Mashie, and cautioned that attempts to impose centralised authority, whether through legislative amendments, administrative arrangements or reinterpretations of history, posed serious implications for peace and autonomy among Ga towns.
It urged Ga communities and the general public to remain vigilant, cautioning that diplomatic language should not obscure efforts to alter established customary structures.
While reaffirming support for unity among Ga towns, it stressed that such unity must be grounded in truth, constitutional respect and equality, rather than “supremacy, imposition, or the resurrection of discredited structures.”
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie