Confusion over Jamestown Mantse

Kingmakers from the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council have stated that they will not recognize some self-styled paramount chiefs of the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Areas following the demise of the former Paramount Chief of Jamestown, Nii Ababio V, who was also the President of the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council.

At a press conference held on Tuesday, November 20 in Mamprobi, Accra, the kingmakers disclosed that two self-styled chiefs, who bear the stool names Oblempong Wetse Kojo II and Nii Ahuma Kojo III, had already been installed by different factions.

Addressing the press, Nii Kojo Ayiku I, Adanse Dzasetse stated that “we are here to set the records straight and to let the whole world know the proper procedures for the installation of a Jamestown Mantse.”

According to him, the kingship of Jamestown rotates between two houses, namely the Adjumanku Dawurampong and Adanse Stools as enshrined in the Native Administrative Ordinance of 1929, which was amended in April 1972 and later became the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Chiefship Setup – Amendment 2017.

“An electoral body, made up of 15 elders, is given the statutory mandate to nominate, select and elect the paramount chief of the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area in accordance with the customs and usages of the area.

“The customary and sacred rites related to the installation of a paramount chief for Jamestown are performed by stool fathers, namely Sampah Kojo from Dom-Sampahman, Akantua Kojo from Weija, Appiah from Asalaja and Nii Sackey Ansah from Manhean.

“We are serving notice that it’s turn of the Adanse Stool to select its candidate with the aid of the Jamestown Dzasetsemei. This candidate, after selection, is presented to the traditional electoral body for vetting.

“Following the vetting and approval of the candidate by the electoral body, the stool fathers would then perform the necessary sacred rites and customs associated with the installation of a paramount chief for Jamestown.

“A few people cannot take the people of Jamestown for a ride by usurping the rights of a whole electoral body established by the Ngleshie Traditional Council on 22nd September, 2017 and purport to have installed a paramount chief for Jamestown. Until the right thing is done, we would not recognize any invalidly installed chief,” he stressed.