Regional News of Friday, 10 August 2007

Source: CRUSADING GUIDE

I.C. Quaye, AMA Boss Warned

As Gas Prepare For Homowo

The Kingmakers of the Ga Paramount Stool (Dzase) and the Asene Divisions have warned the Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye and the Mayor of Accra, to desist from parading Dr. Jo Blankson as the Ga Mantse and the President of the Ga Traditional Council.

According to the Elders, the President of the National House of Chiefs had categorically stated that Dr. Jo Blankson’s name does not appear in the National Register of Chiefs at the Secretariat of the National House of Chiefs.

Briefing the media in Accra, Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II, the Ga Dzasetse, pointed out that Sheikh I.C. Quaye, Adjiri Blankson and the Ga Traditional Council could not usurp the powers of the kingmakers by allowing Dr. Jo Blankson to act as President of the Traditional Council or hold himself as Ga Mantse.

Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II stated that “under the 1992 constitution, the National House of Chiefs remains the only authority through which the government, regional co-ordinating councils and even the Ga Traditional Council recognize any person as a chief”.

He added that the Ga Traditional Council has no mandate in the Ga Custom and tradition to pick a candidate for induction into the Council as a member other than the candidate presented by the Ga Dzase.

According to the spokeman for the Kingmakers, he and his Elders would not tolerate Dr. Jo Blankson parading himself as ‘Ga Mantse’ during this year’s Homowo festival, nor any attempt by him to perform any customary rites at the stool house.

“Any attempt by the Regional Minister and the AMA boss to use the security apparatus to coerce the people of GA Mashie to allow Jo Blankson to sprinkle kpokpoi would not be countenanced”, he said.