Ga Paramount Stool Kingmakers (Dzaase), Tunma We, Abola-Accra, have described Nii Yaote Oto-Ga known in his private life as Mr. Emmanuel Nii Yartey Tackie Yaoboi as self-acclaimed Ga Stool Kingmaker (Dzaasetse) of the Ga State, saying that Nii Oto-Ga is always using that ‘fake’ traditional position to create series of unnecessary confusion and trouble in the Ga State.
They reaffirmed that “the only person nominated, accepted, consecrated and enstooled by the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase as the authentic and legitimate Principal Kingmaker of the Ga Paramount Stool, according to Ga customs, traditions and usage is Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II.
The Ga Paramount Stool Kingmakers made this clarification in a sharp reaction to the recent news items published on the Myjoyfmonline.com which was entitled “You have brought the Ga Mantse’s dignity to disrepute – Dzaasetse.”
The story of the news portal was atributed to Nii Yaote Oto-Ga who vehemently attacked the integrity of the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo for donating items to the Ga Mantse Paramount Stool towards this year’s annual Homowo festival.
In a press statement dated on Wednesday August 19, 2020 signed and issued by the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase Secretary, Mr Joe K. D. O. Benne and copied to New Crusading Guide noted that the “attention of Nii/Niimei of the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase, Tunma We, Abola-Accra, under the able leadership of the Principal Kingmaker of the Ga Paramount Stool, Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II has been drawn to a press release dated 14th August, 2020, and authored by Nii Nabi Anyah Tackie-Yaoboi a. k. a. Fingers.”
The statement which was copied to the offices of the First Lady asserted that Nii Oto-Ga falsely claims to be the Secretary of the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase, and was protesting against the kind of donations made by the First Lady, Her Excellency, Mrs. Rebecca Akuffo Addo, to the occupant of the Ga Paramount Stool, His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II towards the annual Homowo Festival of the people of Ga Mashie.
The statement stressed that the substantive Principal Kingmaker of the Ga Paramount Stool, Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II has legally and customarily installed King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II and his installation cannot be challenged by any unaccredited elders in the Ga State.
It said that Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II was nominated from the appropriate House and lineage, selected and installed by the accredited heads, elders and Representatives of the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase, Tunma We, Abola-Accra in January 2006, as the legitimate Ga Paramount Stool Dzasetse.
According to the statement Nii Tetteh Kwei II, has been affirmed customarily and legally as such, in two rulings of the Ga Traditional Council dated August 9 2010, and on February 8 2018 respectively, adding that “There have been no appeals against both judgements.”
It explained that Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II and the other accredited Kingmakers have not customarily or legally nominated, selected, enstooled and outdoored one Nii Tackie Adama Latse II as Ga Mantse.
“On the contrary, they have legitimately nominated, elected and selected and installed His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II as the legitimate Ga Mantse and he has been inducted into the Ga Traditional Council. Therefore the above publication is not only false, mischievous and malicious but also contemptuous,” the statement stressed.
The statement pointed out that “Niimei of the Ga Paramount Stool Dzase, Tunma We, Abola-Accra contend that a gazette does not make one a chief, but lineage, custom and tradition as provided under section 57 of the Chieftaincy Act.”
The statement stressed that after the demise of King Tackie Tawiah III on April 5, 2012, the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, in a ruling dated 1st April, 2014, declared that “the Ga Paramount Stool is vacant so a new or fresh candidate can be nominated, elected, selected and installed as Ga Mantse.
It mentioned that this therefore nullified the purported illegal installation of Nii Tackie Adama Latse II on June 11 2011.
According to the statement, it was after this ruling that His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II was nominated, elected, selected and installed as Paramount Chief of Ga State by Nii Dr Tetteh Kwei II.
“By Ga custom and tradition, it is the legitimate claimant of the Ga Paramount Stool who occupies the Ga Mantse Palace and the Ga Paramount Stool House as Ga Mantse.
“Her Excellency Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo, a daughter of the soil, rightly and properly paid a courtesy call on the legitimate occupant of the Ga Paramount Stool at the Stool House, as tradition demands and made her generous donation to the Ga people. It is disrespectful, misleading and malicious for anyone to make the allegations referred to above. It is simply put, “Fake News” the statement noted.
In this regard, Niimei of the Ga State demanded an unqualified apology from Nii Yaote Oto-Ga and his cohorts to Mrs Rebecca Akuffo Addo, the Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II and Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II, Dzaasetse and Principal Kingmaker of the Ga Paramount Stool and a retraction of the misinformation, distortion and “fake news” fed out to the general public by the above publication.
The statement said the Niimei publicly extend their profound gratitude and compliments to Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo for her kind and generous donation to the people of Ga Mashie.
Meanwhile in the facts finding mission, this reporter spoke to some legitimate members of the Ga Dzaase Council, Ga Traditional Council, accredited heads, elders and representatives of the Ga Paramount Dzaase which constituted the four Royal Ruling Houses of the Ga State namely, Nii Teiko Tsuru We, Nii Tackie Commey We, Nii Amugi We and Abola Piam We.
On condition of anonymity, they debunked the assertion of Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II to the effect that Nii Dr.Tetteh Kwei ll did not hail from Amugi Royal Ruling House in the Ga State.
Giving the overview of the genealogy of the family of Amugi Royal Ruling House, the Ga Dzaase Council posited that Tunma Ayi (1680 to 1700), brought forth Ayitey, Ayikoi, Okai, Ayele, Dedei, Korkoi and Ayikor-Adu, Ayikor begat Ayi who married Gbiele, an elder sister of one Amui of Sakumo We.
“Tunma Ayi gave birth to Ayai. Amui who was Ayai’s uncle married a very young girl, Yaafo Badut the tenth sister of King Yaotey from1859 to 1852,” the Ga Dzaase Council noted.
Suddenly, the Ga Dzaase Council said Amui of Sakumo We died without having a child with Madam Yaafo Badu.
In comformity with Ga customs, according to them, Madam Yaafo Badu was given to marriage to her late husband’s newphew, Mr. Ayai and she had three children him.
They explained that eldest male was named after the departed uncle, Amui Tunma, saying that all the subsequent children bear Tunma We (family) names.
They went to state that “Amui Tunman begat Nii Tetteh Kwei and his half-brother Nii Mensah Tsruru noting that Nii Tetteh Kwei brought forth Nii Ayi Kofi who aslo gave Seth Mensah Tetteh-Quaye, father of the susbtantive Ga Stool Dzaasetse Nii Tetteh Kwei II.”
They noted that “Seth Mensah Tetteh-Quaye is a great-great grandson of Yaafo Badu, sister of King Yaotey, and great-great great-great-great grandson of King Tunma Ayi from 1680 to 1700.”
Describing him as “pathological liar and opportunist,” the Ga Dzaase Council said Nii Yaote Ota-Ga II never swore an oath of allegiance to any traditional rulers in the Ga State, which hitherto qualified him to be the Ga Paramount Dzaasetse.
They went on to posit that Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II was only appointed to act as Ga Paramount Stool Dzaasetse after Nii Tetteh Kwei II who is the substantive Dzaasetse had an issue with elders of the Ga State.
The Ga Dzaase Council said the action and inaction of Nii Yaote Oto Ga II to still parading himself as Dzsasetse of Ga State is a complete “breach of the Ga Dzaase Council and Ga Traditional Council chieftaincy rules and regulations.”
However, credible document intercepted and currently in possession of this reporter coupled with information from the Ga Dzaase Council indicated that Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II was nominated and elected as the Acting Ga Paramount Stool Dzaasetse in October 8, 2008.
This, according to the document was as a result of the vacancy created by Nii Tetteh Kwei II on May 2, 2008 was asked to setaside by the accredited heads, elders of the Ga Stool Dzaase comprising the four royal ruling houses in the Ga State.
But the Dzaase Council showed documentay evidence to support their claims that the matter has been judiciously settled and that the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase on May 1, 2012 re-affirmed that Nii Tetteh Kwei II is the Ga Stool Dzaasetse (head) as was announced by the Ga Traditional Council in January 2008.
They said that an official statement signed and issued by the Secretary of Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase, Mr. Victor Lartey to that effect indicated that Nii Tetteh Kwei had indeed be inducted into the Ga Traditional Council by Nai Wulomo, Numo Tetteh III.
Mr. Lartey in the statement noted that the legal position of the Ga Dzaase Council still stands and therefore any other contrary position or claim should be regarded as fraudulent and without basis.
The Ga Draase Council referred anyone with a different position to the Ga Dzaase Council’s publication of the full list of all chiefs and office holders for some year ago for confirmation.
Upon this development, the Dzaase Council stated that the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase on November 30, 2010 customary and constitutionally disposed/ removed Nii Yaote Oto Ga II from the appointed position of Acting Ga Paramount Stool Dzaasetse.
The above action, the Ga Dzaase Council told this reporter has become necessary due to Nii Yaote Oto-Ga clandestine acts and actions initiated against the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase and the Ga State since his appointment in September 2008.
They appealed to Gas not to allow themselves to be deprived of their Homowo due to the actions of Nii Yaote Oto-Ga and his cohorts and drew the attention of the security agencies to the intimidation and threats issued by Nii Oto-Ga and his cohorts.
