NPP Call On Ga Mantse

Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, National Chairman of the NPP led the delegation to the Ga mantse Palace in Accra

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday March 16, 2010
At a time when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is sidelining the Ga Mantse in public e, the newly elected executive of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have paid a courtesy call on him and his elders at his royal palace in Accra, presenting him with a box of schnapps.

The visit is likely to stoke another fire in the political landscape particularly among the Ga people as the debate about who is the rightful occupant of the Ga stool rages.

The NPP delegation was led by Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, National Chairman, with Fred Oware, a vice chairman; Esther Dzifa Ofori, treasurer; Anthony A. Karbo, national youth organizer, and R.O. Solomon, a leading member among others.

The Greater Accra Regional executive who were present included Ishmael Ashittey (Chairman), Divine Otoo Agbomor, Gladys Dede, Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed, Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah, George Banforo, Henry Quartey, Joyce Sampari, Paul Appiah as well as the NPP Nasara Chairman Yahaya Abdul Aziz.

The courtesy call was to introduce the NPP newly elected national and the Greater Accra Regional executives to the Ga Traditional Council.

The members of the Ga Traditional Council who received the NPP delegation included Nii Dodoo Nsaki, Nii Adjetey Kraku, Nii Nortey Owuo, Nii Tetteh Quaye, Nii Tetteh Ashong among others.

Welcoming them to his palace, the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, said “the NPP is no stranger to us. They are familiar friends of the Ga State. They always come here to ask for our blessings as custodians of this land.”

He said “your coming here is in the right direction. We welcome your visit because it opens the unit of communication between a political party and the Ga people.”
“We cannot grow as a people if we continue to allow animosity to take center stage of everything we do”, he continued.

Nii Tackie Tawiah commended the NPP for holding a violent-free congress and advised them to intensify education of their supporters to eschew violence, saying “I know you mean well for this state and you should continue with the good work you are doing.”

When he took his turn, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey advised Ga youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to destroy the Ga State.

“We have allowed politics to destroy the strong bond of unity and friendship that had been the hallmark of the Ga people and we seem to be passing it unto the youth to continue the destruction of the Ga State”, he lamented”.

“The time has come for us to stop the insults, fighting and acrimony that have compelled very important Gas to take a back seat and not want to have anything to do with our suffering masses”.

He said the influence and role that the people of Accra had and played in the political development of the country had waned because of what he called “the pull him down” attitude among the Ga people.

“No Ga leader tries to do something and is not pulled down by his/her own people. The insults are too much. We should realize that Gas can play senior roles in the political structures of this country”.

When asked after the meeting whether it was expedient for the NPP executives to call on the Ga Mantse when there was a serious contention about his enstoolment, Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey said “the NPP since 1992 has been paying courtesy calls on the Ga Traditional Council to seek their blessings as custodians of the land so why should we cease to come here”.

In a related development, the Ga Traditional Council at a meeting held yesterday reaffirmed its loyalty to King Tackie Tawiah II as the president of council.

A public notice issued on the letterhead of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture (Ga Traditional Council) with reference GTC/044/145 and signed by Mercy Asante, registrar said “the council further expressed support to its president in his compliments to government over the manner of treatment given the Ga State and its traditions.”

“The council also wants it known that King Tackie Tawiah III is lawfully installed Ga Mantse and he is fully acknowledged by the Ga State as such”.

“Similarly, the only legitimate Ga Royal Paramount Dzasetse is confirmed as NII Tetteh Kwei II. Statemets made by others to the contrary should be ignored”, the notice said.

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