Who is Ga stool kingmaker?

One of the claimants to the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase, Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II known in his private life as Mr. Emmanuel Nii Yartey Tackie Yaoboi on Wednesday December 10, 2014 set Ghanaians, particularly people in the Ga State in an unending suspense when he described Nii Tetteh Kwei II as self-acclaimed Ga Stool Dzaasetse of the Ga State.

The decision by Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II who was the former Chief Director at the Ministry of Transport to tell the whole world that Nii Tetteh Kwei II is a pretender who is bent on causing confusion and mayhem in the Ga State has attracted divergent comments from some legitimate members of Ga Dzaase Council, Ga Traditional Council and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, of which some few in support and majarity of others against it.

What has not been made clear to many Ghanaians together with the members of Ga Dzaase Council and Ga Traditional Council is the reason for Nii Yaote Oto-Ga to say that Nii Tetteh Kwei II has earlier on been declared as not qualified for the position of the Ga Stool Dzaasetse of the Ga Paramount Stool, when he was vetted by an eminent panel of the Ga-Dangbe Council.

Speaking in an interview with Today on Friday December 12, 2014, Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II reaffirmed that " the only person nominated, accepted, consecrated and enstooled by the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase as Ga Dzaasetse in 2008, according to Ga customs, traditions and usage is he (Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II).

Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II told Today that he is "the officially accredited and recognized Dzaasetse of the Ga State who hail from Amugi Royal Ruling House of the Ga State, explaining that the assertion that Nii Tetteh Kwei is claiming that he hail from Amugi Royal Ruling House was not true.

According to him, Nii Tetteh Kwei hail from Sakumotsoshishie ( Sakumo Wulomo Shrine), explaining that Nii Tetteh Kwei's great-grand mother, Madam Yaafo Badu married to their grand father from Amugi Royal Ruling House and Nii Tetteh Kwei II.

"Accidentantly Nii Tetteh Kwei's great-grand mother Madam Yaafo Badu does not have any child with our grand father but Madam Yaafo Badu managed to bring the grand father of Nii Tetteh Kwei whose she have with another man from Sakumo Tsutsitsi family in the Ga State to finally settled at the Amugi Royal Ruling House.

"...it is simply means that Nii Tetteh Kwei's grand-father has been adopted into Amugi Royal Ruling House through the initiative of Madam Yaafo Badu. And that Nii Tetteh Kwei had no legitimacy any where near the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase," he explained.

But in the facts finding mission, Today spoke to some legitimate members of the Ga Dzaase Council, Ga Traditional Council, accredited heads, elders and representatives of the Ga Paramount Dzaase which constituted the four Royal Ruling Houses of the Ga State namely, Nii Teiko Tsuru We, Nii Tackie Commey We, Nii Amugi We and Abola Piam We.

On condition of anonymity, they debunked the assertion of Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II to the effect that Nii Tetteh Kwei did not hail from Amugi Royal Ruling House in the Ga State.

Giving the overview of the genealogy of the family of Amugi Royal Ruling House, the Ga Dzaase Council posited that Tunma Ayi (1680 to 1700), brought forth Ayitey, Ayikoi, Okai, Ayele, Dedei, Korkoi and Ayikor-Adu, Ayikor begat Ayi who married Gbiele, an elder sister of one Amui of Sakumo We.

"Tunma Ayi gave birth to Ayai. Amui who was Ayai's uncle married a very young girl, Yaafo Badut the tenth sister of King Yaotey from1859 to 1852," the Ga Dzaase Council noted.

Suddenly, the Ga Dzaase Council said Amui of Sakumo We died without having a child with Madam Yaafo Badu.

In comformity with Ga customs, according to them, Madam Yaafo Badu was given to marriage to her late husband's newphew, Mr. Ayai and she had three children him.

They explained that eldest male was named after the departed uncle, Amui Tunma, saying that all the subsequent children bear Tunma We (family) names.

They went to state that "Amui Tunman begat Nii Tetteh Kwei and his half brother Nii Mensah Tsruru noting that Nii Tetteh Kwei brought forth Nii Ayi Kofi who aslo gave Seth Mensah Tetteh-Quaye, father of the susbtantive Ga Stool Dzaasetse Nii Tetteh Kwei II."

They noted that "Seth Mensah Tetteh-Quaye is a great-great grand son of Yaafo Badu, sister of King Yaotey, and great-great great-great-great grand son of King Tunma Ayi from 1680 to 1700."

Describing him as "pathological liar and opportunist," the Ga Dzaase Council said Nii Yaote Ota-Ga II never swore an oath of allegiance to any traditional rulers in the Ga State, which hitherto qualified him to be the Ga Paramount Dzaasetse.

They went on to posit that Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II was only appointed to act as Ga Paramount Stool Dzaasetse after Nii Tetteh Kwei II who is the sustantive Dzaasetse had an issue with elders of the Ga State.

The Ga Dzaase Council said the action and inaction of Nii Yaote Oto Ga II to still parading himself as Dzsasetse of Ga State is a complete "breach of the Ga Dzaase Council and Ga Tradtional Council chieftaincy rules and regulations."

However, credible document intercepted and currently in possession of Today coupled with information from the Ga Dzaase Council indicated that Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II was nominated and elected as the Acting Ga Paramount Stool Dzaasetse in October 8, 2008.

This, according to the document was as a result of the vacancy created by Nii Tetteh Kwei II on May 2, 2008 was asked to setaside by the accredited heads, elders of the Ga Stool Dzaase comprising the four royal ruling houses in the Ga State.

But the Dzaase Council showed documentay evidence to support their claims that the matter has been judiciously settled and that the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase on May 1, 2012 re-affirmed that Nii Tetteh Kwei II is the Ga Stool Dzaasetse (head) as was announced by the Ga Traditional Council in January 2008.

They said that an official statement signed and issued by the Secretary of Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase, Mr. Victor Lartey to that effect indicated that Nii Tetteh Kwei had indeed be inducted into the Ga Traditional Council by Nai Wulomo, Numo Tetteh III.

Mr. Lartey in the statement noted that the legal position of the Ga Dzaase Council still stands and therefore any other contrary position or claim should be regarded as fraudulent and without basis.

The Ga Draase Council referred anyone with a different position to the Ga Dzaase Council's publication of the full list of all chiefs and office holders for some year ago for confirmation.

Upon this development, the Dzaase Council stated that the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase on November 30, 2010 customary and constitutionally disposed/ removed Nii Yaote Oto Ga II from the appointed position of Acting Ga Paramount Stool Dzaasetse.

The above action, the Ga Dzaase Council told Today has become necessary due to Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II clandestine acts and actions initiated against the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase and the Ga State since his appointment in September 2008.

" Consequently all the necessary customary/constitutional measures needed to finalisized your disposal/removal has been initiated in accordance with Ga native customary laws,usages, practices and tradition."

"... by the above act and action of the accredited heads, elders and representatives of the Ga Paramount Stool Dzaase you have no capacity, locus standi, right or authority to take any decision in the name of the Ga Paramount Stool Gyase or in your name with regards to above mentioned position," the Ga Gyase Tse Council quoted the official letter written by the Ga Paramount Stool Gyase dated November 30, 2010 informing Nii Yaote Oto-Ga II from his removal and disposal from his position as the acting Ga Paramount Stool Gyase Tse.

The Gyase stressed that Nii Oto-Ga was only parading as the Ga Paramount Stool Gyase Tse because his traditional authority was already held by Nii Tetteh Kwei II, who has been performing the duties and functions of the Ga Royal Stool Gyase Tse.

They appealed to Gas not to allow themselves to be deprived of their Homowo due to the actions of Nii Yaote Oto-Ga and his cohorts and drew the attention of the security agencies to the intimidation and threats issued by Nii Oto-Ga and his cohorts.

To this end, the Ga Gyase Tse Couucil therefore declared that the Ga State would soon have a legitimate Ga Mantse hailing from Abola Piam Royal Ruling House and lineage.