Ga Mantse inducted but rival claimant serves notice

The Ga Traditional Council has inducted Lawyer and former official of the National Develoment Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Jo Blankson as the new Ga Mantse under the stool name King Tackie Tawiah III.

The induction followed the performance of certain rites at the Ga Mantse's Palace in Accra on Monday which made him the undisputed King of the Ga State.

But a rival faction in the dispute over a successor to the late Ga Mantse has condemned the induction of Dr. Joe Blankson as the new Ga Mantse by the Council.

The induction of Dr. Blankson went ahead despite a petition filed against him at the Greater Accra Regional house of Chiefs by a rival faction within the Teiko Tsuru royal family to which he belongs.

The faction has also nominated Kelvin Tackie as the rightful candidate to ascend the throne.
The Acting Head of the Family, Niibi Nii Teiko who described the induction as disgraceful. told Joy News that the family was disclaiming the induction of Dr Blankson because due process was not followed.

He said the Ga Traditional Council did not have the mandate and powers to initiate anyone as Ga Mantse and also described the action by the kingmakers as shameful.

Niibi Teiko said even though it was an honour for someone to be enthroned from the Teiko Tsuru Royal family, the proper steps should be followed as the matter was before the judicial committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs.

The Nai Wulomo, Numo Tete III, performed the rites, for the induction which involved the pouring of libation and the slaughtering of a spotless white sheep whose blood was splashed on a shrine at the palace to signify his induction into the traditional council.

According to the traditional authorities, the ritual signified that King Tackie Tawiah III was the undisputed King of the Ga State and could now occupy the seat at the palace and assume the presidency of the traditional council.

The ceremony was witnessed by some members of the traditional council, including the acting President and Sempe Mantse, Nii Adotey Obuor II, the Ngleshie Alata Mantse, Nii Kojo Ababio V, the Osu Mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo III, the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjetey Kraku III, and the Nungua Mantse, King Odaifio Wulentsi III.

The rest were the Otublohum Mantse, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, Akumajay Mantse, Nii Ayikai III and the Osu Alata Mantse, Nii Kwashie Anaefi IV. Some sub-chiefs of the Ga State were also present.

In a short address after the ritual, Nii Adotey Obuor said as far as the traditional council was concerned, King Tackie Tawiah III was the only recognised Ga Mantse.

He said although the traditional council had heard about the nomination of other persons to the stool, nobody had been introduced to the council apart from King Tackie Tawiah and, therefore, he was the only one it recognised.

Nii Adotey Obuor expressed confidence in the newly inducted Ga Mantse, and was hopeful that the new chief would use the knowledge he had acquired to help address the myriad of developmental challenges facing the Ga State.

He pledged the traditional council's support to the Ga Mantse and called on the people of the Ga State to rally behind him for a successful reign.

Nii Adotey Obuor further prayed for long life and divine wisdom for the Ga Mantse during his reign.

For his part, Nii Kojo Ababio thanked Nii Adotey Obuor for holding the fort as the acting President of the traditional council in the absence of a substantive Ga Mantse.

Responding to his acceptance by the traditional council, King Tackie Tawiah thanked the members for the confidence reposed in him.

He stated that governing any state was not the responsibility of only an individual and, therefore, called for everybody's support.

King Tackie Tawiah underlined the need for the people to unite, stressing, “We are all one people.”

He asked for divine guidance and the co-operation of all so that, with one voice, they could recover the lost glory of the Ga State.

According to King Tackie Tawiah, the glory of the Gas had only been covered by darkness and that they needed light to search and recover it.

King Tackie Tawiah, known in private life as Dr Jo Blankson, hails from the Teiko Tsuru We, one of the Royal houses of the Ga State.

He was installed as Ga Mantse on June 11, 2006 to succeed the late Nii Amugi but his installation sparked off controversy as a section of the Teiko Tsuru Royal Family challenged his eligibility.

Nonetheless, he subsequently swore an oath to the Ga State at Amuginaa and was also accepted by the Ga Traditional Council. Those ceremonies lent significant credence to his eligibility as Ga Mantse.

The new Ga Mantse holds a BA degree in Political Science from the Pace University in New York, an MA in Economics and a PhD in Public Law, both from the School for Social Research, New York.

He also holds an LLB and a Diploma in Law from the La Salle University, Chicago.

Until his installation as Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah worked with the National Develoment Planning Commission (NDPC).

Source: Daily Graphic