Accra, Jan. 25, GNA - The Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin; Okyeman Council and the entire Okyeman on Thursday said they would join the Ga State and Ghana to mourn the late Ga Mantse, Nii Amugi II who had "joined his ancestors".

A statement issued in Accra said the Okyenhene would attend the Ga Mantse's funeral on Saturday January 27, 2007 in a show of historical solidarity with the Ga State and the Ga people.

The statement signed by Nana Yentumi Boaman, Abodeesahene of Akyem Abuakwa, said the Okyenhene's attendance at the invitation of the Ga State attested to the long-standing ties between the Ga people and Okyeman.

It cited some of the instances that demonstrated the historic ties and solidarity between the Akyems and Gas when they were in the trenches together in battles against the Akwamus in the mid-18th century. "Those wars shaped the relations between the existing States in Southern Ghana and the lower Volta Basin as well as the history of Ghana in general".

It said in the 1920s, the Ga Mantse permitted the Okyenhene of the time, Nana Ofori Atta, who was his great friend to rent and later buy a house at Adabraka in Accra, which became Ofori Panin Fie, the Accra Palace of Okyeman.

"The permission significantly allows the Okyenhene to own and operate the Palace in Accra in the same way as he does at the Palace at Kyebi. Okyeman is the only traditional State accorded this privilege in the Capital".

It is also very significant that Nii Tackie Kome, the then Ga Mantse gave refuge in Accra to Nana Ofori Atta II from 13th June 1958 until he could return to Kyebi after the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1966.

"Today, the Ga people and the people of Akyem Abuakwa, and indeed all the people of Ghana are allies in a new battle - the battle for development and the elimination of poverty. We must remain united and focused on this struggle in which we must all be winners with no losers."

The Okyenhene and Okyeman affirmed their solidarity with the Ga people with the assurance that, 93Akyems still stand by Gas in this sad period. More importantly, they wish them a peaceful future", the statement said.