The resumed sitting of the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs at Dodowa to determine suits challenging the legitimacy of Dr. Jo Blankson as Ga Mantse, took an interesting turn when key witness, Nii Yoate Otoga, revealed that the Ga Mantse’s original afili (customary wrist band) is in his custody.
Nii Otoga, who is the head of Ga Paramount Stool Dzase (king making body), said the afili, was used by all successive Ga kings, and signifies the authority of the Ga Mantse.
Led in evidence by his counsel, Bright Akwetey, Nii Otoga told the panel on Friday that without the spiritual wrist band, which is worn by the new Ga Mantse to crown the installation process, no one can claim to be Ga Mantse.
He said the Dzasetse is the only one mandated by custom to take custody of the afili when a Ga Mantse passes away, and he passes it on to the rightful successor.
Explaining how the afili got into his possession, Nii Otoga said as custom required, upon the death of the last Ga Mantse, Nii Amugi II, he, in his capacity as the Dzasetse, together with the heads of the bereaved family, removed the afili from the wrist of the late King.
“I have the responsibility of passing it on to a successor after the Sakumo Wulomo has purified it,” he said.
However, he maintained that the afili is still with him because no candidate has been presented by the succeeding ruling house to the Dzase to perform the installation rites.
According to him, when the last Nii Amugi passed away, the Dzase presented drinks to the head of Abola Piam, one of the four ruling houses, to present a candidate since it was its turn to rule.
He said the purported installation of Dr. Jo Blankson as Ga Mantse is illegal, since the Ga Dzase, the only statutory body mandated to perform the installation rites, was not involved.
He said Dr. Blankson’s claim to the Ga Paramount stool is illegal and against Ga custom because he comes from the matrilineal side of Teiko Tsuru We, and therefore is not entitled to the stool since Gas inherit through patrilineal lineage.
According to witness, even if Dr. Blankson has a patrilineal lineage, he would still be disqualified because it is not the turn of Teiko Tsuru We to rule, and as such the Dzase has not presented any drinks to the Teiko Tsuru We.
“The Dzase has not administered any oath to Dr. Blankson and has not presented him to the Ga Traditional Council,” Nii Otoga said.
He challenged the validity of the 2007.
purported coronation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse at the Ga Mantse’s Palace at Kaneshie, in Accra, saying “the practice of coronation is alien to Ga custom.”
What custom requires, and was done for all past Ga kings, is a public presentation of the new Ga Mantse, after the relevant rituals have been performed at Amugi Na, and not anywhere else.
But Dr. Blankson’s counsel, Willie Amarfio, during cross-examination, suggested to the witness that coronation means the same as public presentation.
He tendered in evidence an invitation card titled “Invitation to the public presentation of Nii Tackie Komey II at Amugi Na” in 1948, as Ga Mantse, which he insisted amounted to coronation
Witness, however disagreed, saying the document rather shows that his (Nii Otoga) assertion that coronation is alien to Ga custom, is right and that only public presentation is done at Amugi Na.
He added that Dr. Blankson’s outdooring was done at the Ga Mantse palace and not at Amugi Na, as custom demands and that makes it illegal.
The case has been adjourned to Friday, May 28.
Nii Otoga, who is the head of Ga Paramount Stool Dzase (king making body), said the afili, was used by all successive Ga kings, and signifies the authority of the Ga Mantse.
Led in evidence by his counsel, Bright Akwetey, Nii Otoga told the panel on Friday that without the spiritual wrist band, which is worn by the new Ga Mantse to crown the installation process, no one can claim to be Ga Mantse.
He said the Dzasetse is the only one mandated by custom to take custody of the afili when a Ga Mantse passes away, and he passes it on to the rightful successor.
Explaining how the afili got into his possession, Nii Otoga said as custom required, upon the death of the last Ga Mantse, Nii Amugi II, he, in his capacity as the Dzasetse, together with the heads of the bereaved family, removed the afili from the wrist of the late King.
“I have the responsibility of passing it on to a successor after the Sakumo Wulomo has purified it,” he said.
However, he maintained that the afili is still with him because no candidate has been presented by the succeeding ruling house to the Dzase to perform the installation rites.
According to him, when the last Nii Amugi passed away, the Dzase presented drinks to the head of Abola Piam, one of the four ruling houses, to present a candidate since it was its turn to rule.
He said the purported installation of Dr. Jo Blankson as Ga Mantse is illegal, since the Ga Dzase, the only statutory body mandated to perform the installation rites, was not involved.
He said Dr. Blankson’s claim to the Ga Paramount stool is illegal and against Ga custom because he comes from the matrilineal side of Teiko Tsuru We, and therefore is not entitled to the stool since Gas inherit through patrilineal lineage.
According to witness, even if Dr. Blankson has a patrilineal lineage, he would still be disqualified because it is not the turn of Teiko Tsuru We to rule, and as such the Dzase has not presented any drinks to the Teiko Tsuru We.
“The Dzase has not administered any oath to Dr. Blankson and has not presented him to the Ga Traditional Council,” Nii Otoga said.
He challenged the validity of the 2007.
purported coronation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse at the Ga Mantse’s Palace at Kaneshie, in Accra, saying “the practice of coronation is alien to Ga custom.”
What custom requires, and was done for all past Ga kings, is a public presentation of the new Ga Mantse, after the relevant rituals have been performed at Amugi Na, and not anywhere else.
But Dr. Blankson’s counsel, Willie Amarfio, during cross-examination, suggested to the witness that coronation means the same as public presentation.
He tendered in evidence an invitation card titled “Invitation to the public presentation of Nii Tackie Komey II at Amugi Na” in 1948, as Ga Mantse, which he insisted amounted to coronation
Witness, however disagreed, saying the document rather shows that his (Nii Otoga) assertion that coronation is alien to Ga custom, is right and that only public presentation is done at Amugi Na.
He added that Dr. Blankson’s outdooring was done at the Ga Mantse palace and not at Amugi Na, as custom demands and that makes it illegal.
The case has been adjourned to Friday, May 28.
