Osu mantse is still at post

The Osu Divisional Council of the Ga Traditional Council on Tuesday stressed that there was only one Osu mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo III.

The purported installation of another chief for Osu in Accra on a stool, which is not vacant, is therefore a void action and of no legal consequence, the Council said.

A statement issued in Accra by Nii Okwei Nortey, Osu Stool Secretary, said the purported installation of another Osu mantse must therefore be ignored.

It said all those who participated in the "unlawful series of actions which fly in the face of the Appeal and Supreme Court judgments must begin preparing their responses to contempt of court charges that will soon be issued against them".

The statement said the Osu Mantse and President of the Osu Divisional Council was enstooled on 29th December 1984 and "he remains the one and only Osu Mantse and it is he who occupies the Osu Stool as of this day".

The statement said government recognition for Nii Owuo III was withdrawn in a Local Government Bulletin No. 23 of August 5, 1986.

"In the event, the Accra High Court agreed with Nii Ako Nortei IV, Mankralo of Osu, but Nii Nortey Owuo III appealed to the Appeal Court asking for the High Court's judgment to be set aside. By unanimous landmark decision of the three Appeal Court judges, Nii Nortey Owuo III won his appeal."

The statement said the Mankralo appealed to the Supreme Court but on May 17, 2006 confirmed the Appeal Court judgment in favour of Nii Nortey Owuo III as the incumbent Osu Mantse.

"The status of Nii Nortey Owuo III as Osu Mantse has not changed since the Supreme Court judgment of 17th May 2006. No destoolment charges have ever been preferred let alone proved against him since 29th December 1984. Nii Nortey Owuo III thus remains the incumbent, undestooled Osu Mantse."

Source: GNA