Accra (Ghanaian Times) -- With only a day to the planned coronation in Accra of Dr. Jo Blankson, as Ga Mantse, another person has been introduced to the seven clans in Ga Mashie as the new Ga Mantse.

Henry Nii Ayitey Ayitey, 53, was yesterday introduced by elders of Abola Piam, one of the four Ga Royal Gates, to the five out of seven clans in Ga Mashie, as the new Ga Mantse under the stool name, Nii Tackie Obli II.

He is the third person to have been nominated by the royal houses to succeed the late Ga Mantse, Boni Nii Amugi II, who was buried last January. The other two are Dr. Jo Blanskon and Kelvin Tackie, both who hail from the Teiko Tsuru We.

Amidst jubilation from followers clad in white, Nii Obli was taken to the five houses where libation was poured and a ram slaughtered to signify the acceptance of his nomination.

Nii Obli, a professional printer and publisher, is said to have been selected by the kingmakers about one and half years ago and was put in confinement for about a week as custom demanded. The houses where he was taken to were, Dantu We, Kokloto We, Asere We, Ardey Akwa We, and Frimpong We. Family sources told the Times that he would be taken to the two remaining clans, Agbon We and Sakumo We, on Tuesday to complete the introduction process.

He was introduced to the elders in the houses by the elders of Abola We, where he comes from amidst the firing of musketry, singing and dancing in the streets of Ga Mashie.

The introduction of the new chief coincided with a news conference by the leadership of the Ga Paramount Dzaase, the customary group mandated to instal Ga Mantse, at which the Head of Dzaase, Nii Yaote Oto-Ga declared the Dzaase’s intention to resist the planned coronation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse on Saturday.

Nii Yaote Oto-Ga, told the Times on phone after the introduction of Nii Obli that the Dzaase is not in support of his nomination either because there were some irregularities in his selection and nomination.

"They are only adding up to the confusion," he stated, adding that the kingmakers would soon introduce the rightful successor to the throne.

Dr. Blankson was the first to have been announced publicly as the successor to the stool but his selection and nomination was challenged by the Dzaase and three royal houses who maintained that he did not qualify.

It was followed by the announcement by Nii Teiko Tsuru We, just a day to the burial of the late Ga Mantse on January 27, that Kelvin Nii Tackie, as the legitimate candidate for the stool.

...Ga Dzaase Warns Jo Blankson Faction

THE Ga Dzaase, the traditional group mandated to install Ga Mantse, says it will resist the planned coronation tomorrow of Dr. Jo Blankson, as Ga Mantse.

"We serve notice that the impunity and illegalities being perpetrated by Dr. Jo Blankson, the Ga Traditional Council and their cohorts in flouting all laid down procedures in connection with the installation of Ga Mantse will no longer be tolerated.

"The central authority of the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase, Abola, and the Asere Stools, who are custodians of the Ga paramount stool processes in installing a king, will resist with all the power at our disposal, any attempt to subvert and desecrate the Ga State," Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II, Dzaasetse, said at a news conference in Accra yesterday. He said the planned coronation is not only illegal but alien to Ga custom and usage since customary rites of a Ga Mantse is done only at Amugi Naa or Mojawe.

The news conference, which was characterised by the singing of war songs by a large group of people clad in red attire and armbands, was also attended by a number of elders including the heads of four royal houses making up the Dzaase which consist of Teiko Tsuru We, Tackie Komme We, Amugi We and Abola Piam We.

The Ga Traditional Council, has said the coronation of Dr. Blankson, as Ga Mantse under the stool name of King Tackie Tawiah III will come off as scheduled on Saturday in spite of a number of suits against his nomination and installation.

But Nii Oto-Ga said the Dzaase has exercised extreme restraint in the face of all provocations to ensure that peace is maintained in the Ga State, but noted that the "blantant impunity with which Dr. Jo Blankson and his agents want to take over the Ga stool despite legitimate and peaceful resistance and the pursuit of due process of the law, is a recipe for lawlessness and chaos in the metropolis.

He noted that the Dzaase cannot guarantee peace in the Ga state if the coronation is not stopped, especially because the Dzaase may not be able to restrain the youth in disturbances that might develop.

Nii Oto-Ga explained the customary processes for the nomination and installation of a Ga Mantse saying that Dr. Blankson did not go through the process rending his nomination and planned coronation a violation of Ga tradition and custom.

For instance, he said, a new Ga Mantse is never nominated and enstooled to succeed a deceased Ga Mantse when he has not been buried as was done in the case of Dr. Blankson.

In addition, he said Dr. Blankson’s nomination and selection was done without the participation of all the accredited kingmakers, which is a basic requirement for the occupation of the Ga Paramount Stool.

Nii Oto-Ga explained that Nii Akropong III, head of Teiko Tsuru We and Nii Tetteh Ashong IV, Seitse (Stool father) of the Ga Paramountcy who performed the selection and nomination, when summoned before the Nai Wulomo admitted their guilt for violating custom after which they paid various fines. The Nai Wulomo, thereafter, declared the enstoolment null and void.

"Dr. Blankson does not hail from the patrilineal line of succession. He is a grandson of Amerley-Nkpa, daughter of King Tackie Tawiah I and the son of the late Blankson Lartey from Gbese Manhean who does not hail from a chiefly line," he said.

He said it was sad that although Dr. Blankson’s purported nomination was the subject of suits pending before the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, he unlawfully continues to hold himself out as Ga Mantse.

"We shall fight to preserve our heritage, dignity and respect we enjoy in the Ga-Dangme State," he declared adding, "we know we are fighting a just cause and we shall overcome".

Nii Oto-Ga expressed concern about the interference of the Ga Traditional Council in the matter, saying that although the council is aware of the irregularities, it is supporting the illegality.

"The Ga Traditional Council has acted contrary to Ga custom and traditions by accepting and inducting Dr. Blankson into the council as its president.

"The Council has no mandate to nominate, select and enstool a Ga Mantse," Nii Oto-Ga stated.

He deplored the use of the security agencies to provide protection for Dr. Blankson and the Ga Traditional Council, in carrying out their activities against the wishes of the Dzaase, but said: "we shall not be intimidated or coerced by such show of force."

He advised all invited guests to the coronation to "ignore the invitation to celebrate impunity and illegality."

Nii Oto-Ga also urged corporate bodies that have received letters of appeal for support to ignore it since it is a shame that the Council is asking for support when we are yet to formally acknowledge the earlier support given to the Ga State during the funeral of the late King, Boni Nii Amugi II.

"We appeal to the conscience of all in Ga leadership, the government, parliament, judiciary, religious bodies and human rights groups to uphold the truth, and to reject impunity and lawlessness."

He gave the assurance that "the rightful kingmakers will pursue and carry this agenda to its logical conclusion to elect the right and acceptable king in the long term interest of the Ga people.

He thanked President J.A. Kufuor for advising the delegation that invited him to the coronation to settle all differences, and urged all invited guests to take a cue from the President’s advice.

When contacted for their comment on the controversies generated by the impending coronation, the police said that they had officially been informed of the event and were ready to provide minimum security at the ceremony.

If on the other hand, the opposing faction goes to court to secure an injunction against ceremony, the police will respect the court’s order, Inspector Kwaku Dompreh, Regional Police Public Relations Office told the Times yesterday.