[ 2011-06-13 ]

Heavy Police presence at Ga Mantse Palace
There is heavy security at the Ga Mantse Palace in
Accra to forestall a possible bloody clash as two
factions lay claim to the stool.

Supporters of the new ‘Ga Mantse’ who was
installed last Sunday, Nii Tackie Adama Latse II,
are reported to have succeeded in seizing
powerhouse of the Ga kingdom, the Ga Maantse
Palace.

Spokesperson for the widely recognised Ga Mantse,
Nii Tackie Tawiah the III, had accused the police
of failing to provide adequate security because
the legitimate King’s destoolment was perhaps
spearheaded by some officials of the governing NDC
Government.

Explaining the presence of the police at the Ga
Mantse palace, the Acting Public Affairs Director
of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Cephas Arthur
told Citi News his men are only there to maintain
law and order, and that calm was gradually
returning to the area.

According to him, although the Palace and its
precincts are relatively calm, the police are not
taking the situation lightly

“The place is quiet and there is peace here but
the Police don’t take anything for granted. It
is our responsibility to provide security and to
maintain law and order. So irrespective of the
situation, we are still on the ground ensuring
that the atmosphere continues to prevail so
nothing untoward happens. We are here
strategically; you may come here and will not see
any plain-clothed personnel but there is police
presence here".

“We have not less than four armoured cars
supported by about ten cars with personnel engaged
in strategic patrolling because this is a
strategic operation. Very soon, we shall redeploy
and change our tactics. We are wide awake” he
stated.

DSP Arthur could however not confirm or deny
reports that a new Ga Mantse has taken over the
Palace.

“We don’t know about that. That is not our
primary concern. Our primary objective is to
ensure that we provide security and deter
potential troublemakers to ensure that there is
peace. As far as the chieftaincy issue itself is
concerned, the Police have no real part in it”
he noted.

Meanwhile, Nii Boye Abbey, the Spokesperson for
the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah, has also denied
reports that the Palace has been taken over.

The new 'King'’s installation was performed by
some kingmakers of the Ga State at the main Ga
Stool House. His supporters later took over the
Palace at North Kaneshie on Monday June 13, where
the new 'King' is expected to address the press.

The new ‘King’ is a London-based businessman
known in private life as George Tackie, and hails
from Piam, one of the Royal Houses within the Ga
state.

The enstoolment follows threats by Gbese Mantse
Nii Ayibonte II, to enstool a new Ga Mantse by
August 2011.

He insisted that the Ga state currently had no
king, dismissing the installation of Nii Tackie
Tawiah III who has been acclaimed as the Ga Mantse
and recognised as the chairman of the Greater
Accra Regional House of Chiefs.

Nii Ayi Bonte, known in private life as Tommy
Okine, and who until his enstoolment was the CEO
of Accra Hearts of Oak was, swore before a
gathering last week that he should be destooled if
he fails to enstool a new chief.

The Gbese Mantse accused the erstwhile Kufuor
administration of imposing Nii Tackie Tawiah on
the Ga People.

He mentioned former Tourism Minister, Jake
Obetsebi Lamptey, former Greater Accra Regional
Minister IC Quaye and former Accra Mayor Adjiri
Blankson as responsible for the "problems" in the
Ga state.

However, the Spokesperson of Nii Tackie Tawiah III
has described the enstoolment as a “sacrilege
and an insult to the Ga throne”
Nii Boye Abbey said the supposed new chief had his
parents “adopted into the Teiko Tsuru We” and
is “nowhere close to the throne.”

He also accused persons within the ruling NDC
government of supervising the sacrilegious act
mainly because they have always believed that King
Tackie Tawiah was installed by the erstwhile NPP
administration.

He mentioned the Ga South DCE, as well as the twin
brother of the Member of Parliament for the
Odododiodio constituency, and some national
security operatives as supervising the act.

Nii Abbey said the action flies in the face of
rule of law and says they will take legal action
against the claimants.

He described as “untrue” the rival faction’s
claim of seizing the Palace and the Traditional
Council.

Source - Citifmonline

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