A group calling itself the Concerned Members of the Nii Teiko Tsuru Royal Family of Abola Tunma We, have called on Dr. Jo Blankson to “honourably withdraw himself as Ga Mantse to save his face and that of the Ga dynasty.”
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, Nii bi Nii Teiko Tackie, a representative of the group, said Dr. Blankson’s selection installation and confinement was in violation of the procedures of Ga customs and tradition.
He said, there is a proper and elaborate traditional procedure of selecting, nominating, installing and outdooring of Ga Kings. “It is the Dzaase led by the Dzaasetse who initiate and preside over the whole process of making anyone a king. This tradition has been maintained for nearly 500 years.”
Nii Tackie said, in the case of Dr. Blankson, there was no consensus in his nomination.
He also said the late Blankson Lartey the father of Dr. Blankson was paternally of Manhean stock in Gbese, and his mother from Sempe. He could therefore not lay claim to the Ga stool because his lineage is maternal.
“In fact, his real name is Lartey Sempe and by his name any Ga can tell you where he belongs traditionally, Manhean, Gbese,” he stressed.
Nii Tackie said that, the Ga custom is very democratic, and allows the whole royal family to hold a forum for choosing a candidate to be presented to the Ga Dzaase, but this has been violated.
“It is the Dzaase that screen candidates presented by the family house responsible to select potential candidates and not the family head as was purportedly done by Nii Akropong of Teiko Tsuru We.”
Again, he said instead of the laid-down procedure of holding a forum to choose candidates the Nii Akropong single-handedly selected Dr. Blankson as candidate to represent Nii Teiko Tsuru Royal Family of Abola Tunma We.
Nii Tackie said, the whole Dzaase, responsible for the confinement and the teaching of the rules of kingship were totally ignored.”
Squadron Leader George Tagoe the Dzaase coordinator of the four ruling homes said, it is wrong for one person to select, confine and install Ga Mantse.
“It is a shame that, our late King Nii Amugi is being dishonoured with such disgraceful actions. What we have to do is to work together in unity to bury the late king and install a new one for the development of the Ga State."
