The Ga Mantse Nii Tackie Tawiah II
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25th May, 2010
NII GA BLAMES CASTLE ...But Govt Rubbishes Allegation
The Ga Mantse Nii Tackie Tawiah II yesterday took the chieftaincy problems confronting him to another level when he accused the government of being responsible for attacks on his palace.
Speaking at a press conference in reaction to a dawn attack on his palace yesterday, the Ga Mantse alleged that he was aware of numerous meetings that had been held at the Castle between government officials and the ring leaders.
On Friday, some youth invaded the palace and barricaded the gate, locking up residents.
The timely intervention of police led to the arrest of 22 people who are currently on police enquiry bail.
Another attack was staged yesterday by an unidentified group of people, who it is believed, are seeking the destoolment of Nii Tackie Tawiah.
Nii Tackie Tawiah said his conviction of government involvement has been reinforced by the fact that since the first attack on his palace on Friday, no government official had visited the palace to have first hand information of what had happened.
He said, “not even the Major of Accra or the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture had deemed it important to visit the palace and have first-hand knowledge of what happened.”
Nii Tackie Tawiah said “the Ga Traditional Council had on many occasions informed and warned government of an impending attempt by some disgruntled persons to disrupt the peace the Ga State is enjoying but nothing has been done.”
He said vandalizing the palace in the name of a chieftaincy fend “is much ado about nothing since the legitimacy of a chief does not reside in structures but in the people.”
Nii Tackie Tawiah said Gas had been pushed and provoked long enough and he, like his forebears, would not be cajoled into succumbing to pressure from any quarter.
He said “the provocation has now reached a level where Gas are being cornered to react violently to the atrocities,” adding that under such circumstances, nobody should misconstrue such an action by giving it a political colouring.
He said “the Ga State is prepared to defend itself if the foolishness is not stopped.”
Nii Tackie Tawiah asked the National House of Chiefs to let its voice be heard “as the chieftaincy institution comes under siege.”
He said “if the House fails to intervene in what is going on in the Ga State, nobody should have cause for complaint when similar atrocities are visited on any member of the House.”
Reacting to the Ga Mantse’s statement, Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information said “since the Ga Mantse has knowledge of the ringleaders who meet at the Castle, the onus is on him to prove it.”
He said “the Castle is used for more serious business than what the Ga Mantse says happened there,” adding that “people were apprehended and are facing criminal charges over the issue, so what more can government do.”
The Deputy Minister said “the way the Ga Mantse uses some of his personal challenges to castigate the government does not augur well for his reputation.”
He the government has made it clear that it will not interfere in chieftaincy litigations since the regional and the National Houses of Chiefs have the capacity to deal with the issues.
He asked the Ga Mantse not to politicize his personal problems with the current government since even President Kufuor had questioned his legitimacy when he was invited to the coronation.
Mr Agyenim-Boateng said the Ex-President had asked the delegation to the Castle whether the Kingmakers had resolved the issue about who ascends the throne and stated, “you need to assure me so that when I come, there should be no doubt about the occasion.”
He said “there will be no justification in sending a government official to ascertain matters at the palace since the Ga Mantse had on several occasions, insulted and ridiculed the Presisent.”
Meanwhile, three of the people who attacked the palace have been arrested and are assisting the Accra Regional Police, reports Francis Asamoah Tuffour .
They are Isaac Ayitey Quaye, 27, fisherman, Nii Saban Quaye, 26, goldsmith, and Otu Blankson, 23, photographer.
Chief Inspector Kwaku Dompreh, of the Accra Regional Police Relations, told the Times that at dawn yesterday, the police had a distress call from four policemen who on guard duty at the palace that irate youth numbering over 20 had stormed the palace and were vandalizing furniture and other equipment.
He said they called for reinforcement of troops which led to the arrest of the three suspects. The rest bolted.
As of press time, the Times had gathered that one Ayitey Canada, the alleged master mind of the attacks, had surrendered himself to the police.
Chief Inspector Dompreh who confirmed the story said Ayitey was being interrogated by a team of police personnel to assist in investigations.
Speaking at a press conference in reaction to a dawn attack on his palace yesterday, the Ga Mantse alleged that he was aware of numerous meetings that had been held at the Castle between government officials and the ring leaders.
On Friday, some youth invaded the palace and barricaded the gate, locking up residents.
The timely intervention of police led to the arrest of 22 people who are currently on police enquiry bail.
Another attack was staged yesterday by an unidentified group of people, who it is believed, are seeking the destoolment of Nii Tackie Tawiah.
Nii Tackie Tawiah said his conviction of government involvement has been reinforced by the fact that since the first attack on his palace on Friday, no government official had visited the palace to have first hand information of what had happened.
He said, “not even the Major of Accra or the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture had deemed it important to visit the palace and have first-hand knowledge of what happened.”
Nii Tackie Tawiah said “the Ga Traditional Council had on many occasions informed and warned government of an impending attempt by some disgruntled persons to disrupt the peace the Ga State is enjoying but nothing has been done.”
He said vandalizing the palace in the name of a chieftaincy fend “is much ado about nothing since the legitimacy of a chief does not reside in structures but in the people.”
Nii Tackie Tawiah said Gas had been pushed and provoked long enough and he, like his forebears, would not be cajoled into succumbing to pressure from any quarter.
He said “the provocation has now reached a level where Gas are being cornered to react violently to the atrocities,” adding that under such circumstances, nobody should misconstrue such an action by giving it a political colouring.
He said “the Ga State is prepared to defend itself if the foolishness is not stopped.”
Nii Tackie Tawiah asked the National House of Chiefs to let its voice be heard “as the chieftaincy institution comes under siege.”
He said “if the House fails to intervene in what is going on in the Ga State, nobody should have cause for complaint when similar atrocities are visited on any member of the House.”
Reacting to the Ga Mantse’s statement, Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information said “since the Ga Mantse has knowledge of the ringleaders who meet at the Castle, the onus is on him to prove it.”
He said “the Castle is used for more serious business than what the Ga Mantse says happened there,” adding that “people were apprehended and are facing criminal charges over the issue, so what more can government do.”
The Deputy Minister said “the way the Ga Mantse uses some of his personal challenges to castigate the government does not augur well for his reputation.”
He the government has made it clear that it will not interfere in chieftaincy litigations since the regional and the National Houses of Chiefs have the capacity to deal with the issues.
He asked the Ga Mantse not to politicize his personal problems with the current government since even President Kufuor had questioned his legitimacy when he was invited to the coronation.
Mr Agyenim-Boateng said the Ex-President had asked the delegation to the Castle whether the Kingmakers had resolved the issue about who ascends the throne and stated, “you need to assure me so that when I come, there should be no doubt about the occasion.”
He said “there will be no justification in sending a government official to ascertain matters at the palace since the Ga Mantse had on several occasions, insulted and ridiculed the Presisent.”
Meanwhile, three of the people who attacked the palace have been arrested and are assisting the Accra Regional Police, reports Francis Asamoah Tuffour .
They are Isaac Ayitey Quaye, 27, fisherman, Nii Saban Quaye, 26, goldsmith, and Otu Blankson, 23, photographer.
Chief Inspector Kwaku Dompreh, of the Accra Regional Police Relations, told the Times that at dawn yesterday, the police had a distress call from four policemen who on guard duty at the palace that irate youth numbering over 20 had stormed the palace and were vandalizing furniture and other equipment.
He said they called for reinforcement of troops which led to the arrest of the three suspects. The rest bolted.
As of press time, the Times had gathered that one Ayitey Canada, the alleged master mind of the attacks, had surrendered himself to the police.
Chief Inspector Dompreh who confirmed the story said Ayitey was being interrogated by a team of police personnel to assist in investigations.
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