Nii Okaidja III to re-take Gbese Royal Stool Palace

Nii Okaidja III will soon take over the Gbese Royal Stool Palace at Ga Mashie in the Greater Accra Region, this paper has gathered.

This decisive action, the paper learnt follows the recent ruling by an Accra High Court presided over by His Lordship Mr Justice Kwabena Asuman-Adu, which has thrown out the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Ga Traditional Council which had earlier declared Thomas Okaine as Gbese Mantse.

The paper would recall that in April 2009, Thomas Okaine and his kinsmen with a supreme support by the former Coordinator of National Security; Mr Larry Gbevlo Lartey illegally evicted Nii Okaidja III and his people from the Gbese Royal Stool Palace.

This worried situation has created tension in the Ga State.

However, the High Court at the Cocoa Affairs Court in Accra by its wisdom, on April 22nd 2015, quashed the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Ga Traditional Council dated February 10th 2015 which had earlier declared Nii Ayi Bonte II as the Gbese Mantse.

In a letter dated May 4th 2015 written by the lawyer for Nii Okaidja III, Hon. Ayikoi Otoo, intercepted by this paper stated that “There is therefore no judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction in Ghana which has declared Thomas Okaine Gbese Mantse under the Stool name Nii Ayi Bonte II.”

The said letter continued “This is to notify the general public that the Court of Appeal decision was a Ruling on Suspension of the High Court Ruling pending the final determination of the Appeal against the Ruling of the said High Court presided over by His Lordship Mr. Justice Jacob Boon.”

It further stated clearly that “the said Court of Appeal Ruling is therefore not a final judgment to be relied upon.”

Meanwhile, Nii Okaidja III has also written to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo stating that since he (Nii Okaidja III) was legitimately enstooled onto a vacant stool as Gbese Mantse in October 2006, he has NOT been destooled.

The letter, dated May 6th 2015, signed by the Gbese Royal Stool Secretary, Emmanuel Aryee, was copied to the Office of the President, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Greater Accra Regional Police Command, James Town District Police Command and the Lawyer Ayikoi Otoo.

This letter, which is also in possession of this paper, noted that several unsuccessful attempts have been made by Thomas Okaine through his Lawyer Adumoa Bossman to destool Nii Okaidja III - the latest one having been made on the 10th February 2015 through the “current illegally-constituted Ga Traditional Council.”

The letter went on to explain that the Gbese Mantse, by all customary practices, is the rightful person to perform all rituals for the Homowo Festival of the Ga State.

It averred that over the years, Nii Okaidja III, in his quest for peace, has self-imposed some restrictions which has helped to prevent violence from the well-known stone and bottle-throwing supporters of Thomas Okaine - (who will forget the Funeral of Nii Okaidja’s 97 year old father Niitse J. A. Annan when mourners as well as the police were pelted with bottles and stones until reinforcement arrived).

Nii Okaidja III suggested in the letter to Hon. Afotey Agbo, who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpone Katamanso Constituency in the Greater Accra Region that: “Thomas Okaine should be warned off from participating in any function (starting from Friday 8/5/15) which is designated for the Gbese Mantse.”

In the same tone, Nii Okaidja III said in the letter that he has served notice to the Minister and the Police that he and his entourage will visit Gbese during the period leading to the Homowo Festival.

The letter pointed out that the Ga State has been in turmoil because the truth has always been overshadowed and everything is seen as one-sided. People on the grounds are angry.

“They know that after the Supreme Court judgment the Gbese dispute SHOULD end. They also know about the boastings going around that you (the Greater Accra Regional Minister) will help Thomas Okaine to beat the Odadao yet again.

“…the decent people of Gbese hope that since you know that the “KING-PIN” that is, the Judgment of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Dodowa dated 17th February 2003, has been declared NULL AND VOID by the Supreme Court in Accra, you will see your way clear this time. (There are Affidavits and letters from Thomas Okaine and his Lawyer Adumoa Bosman to confirm their reliance on the Dodowa Judgment for Thomas Okaine’s enstoolment as Gbese Mantse),” the letter explained.