Abola chieftaincy dispute: Nii Adjiri Blankson, High Court Judge backing ‘illegitimate’ King with impunity — Akwatse We Clan

The long-running chieftaincy dispute in the Abola Traditional Area in the Greater Accra region over who is the rightful heir to the Abola Mantse stool has taken a controversial turn, with allegations of political interference in the judicial process.

As has been the tradition for over two centuries, the Abola Mantse stool rotates between the two gate families of Ahele-Nansedu and Akwatse We (Nunoo-Nuacoo).

However, confusion erupted following the death of the last occupant Nii Ahele Nunoo II who was from the Ahele-Nansedu gate in 2000.

Both gates made claims to the vacant stool, but the Akwatse We gate believes it is their turn according to customary.

They presented a case to the Naaye We (Ga Traditional Court) in 2016 against the purported installation of another person from the Ahele-Nansedu gate.

The matter has moved through various arbitration and judicial processes, including the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and the High Court, but a resolution is yet to be made due to alleged "intransigence" from the Ahele-Nansedu side.

Very recently, the Akwatse We took th case to the High Court in Kumasi, but were stunned by the "bizarre" dismissal of their "watertight evidence" by Justice Ali Baba Abature which fueled their suspicions of undue political interference.

As spokesperson for the Akwatse We Nii Amonakwa Agyemang Kese III, the Shipii of Abola who addressed a press conference on Wednesday, October 25, said, "Our recent case brought before the High Court in Kumasi presided by Justice Ali Baba Abature, was bizarrely thrown out with the judge overlooking our watertight evidence."

Nii Amonakwa Agyemang Kese III, the Shipii of Abola addressing the media

Their suspicions were seemingly confirmed when a court clerk later revealed to them that the judge had confided that he acted under "political pressure" due to the influence of former Accra Mayor Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, now a member of the Council of State.

Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, former Accra Mayor

The judge is alleged to be a God-son to Nii Adjiri Blankson and was a PRO to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly during the ex-mayor’s tenure before getting a call to the bench.

"Justice Ali Baba Abature, until his call to the bench was a Public Relations Officer to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) under the tenure of Adjiri Blankson and therefore you can connect the dots," Nii Agyemang Kese III stated.

According to him, the former Accra Mayor and Council of State member is allegedly exerting influence because the outcome should it be in favour of the Akwatse We Clan, may not favour the current Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru whose capacity is being challenged in court and with whom he is a close ally.

The Akwatse We Clan noted that the supporters of the current overload of the Ga land fear he may not be the choice of candidate since the rightful claimant of the Abola stool customary assumes the position of an Advisor (Tufohene) to the Ga Traditional Council and has the mandate to nominate a candidate for the stool.