Sixty Years of Ga Politics[1] – E. A. Ammah

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Ganyobi 11 years ago

We have been lied to, and we hate Ewe people and call them ayigbe. Who is Ayigbe?

We have been lied to, and we hate Ewe people and call them ayigbe. Who is Ayigbe?
THE ONE AND ONLY WAHJAHKAMAN 11 years ago

THANK YOU MR. ADE FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL BIT OF GA HISTORY.I WILL LOVE TO READ MORE.KEEP DOING THIS GREAT WORK AND GOD WILL RICHLY BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU MR. ADE FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL BIT OF GA HISTORY.I WILL LOVE TO READ MORE.KEEP DOING THIS GREAT WORK AND GOD WILL RICHLY BLESS YOU.
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. 11 years ago

Come on, this is Akan history - names like Taki or Takyi; Mampong; Okai/Okine; Ofori...give me a real can history that I can trust.

Dzase is Gyaase, the Akan minister of the kitchen (under the fire). Sounds more Akwamu to ...
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Come on, this is Akan history - names like Taki or Takyi; Mampong; Okai/Okine; Ofori...give me a real can history that I can trust.

Dzase is Gyaase, the Akan minister of the kitchen (under the fire). Sounds more Akwamu to me than Ga.
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. 11 years ago

Ayi "Kushi," that is "Kusi," an Akan name.

Ayi "Kushi," that is "Kusi," an Akan name.
OKOE 11 years ago

WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THIS HISTORICAL COMMENTARY. YOU EITHER SHOULD HAVE LIVED IT OR OUGHT TO HAVE A SOURCE OF YOUR NARATIVE. THE INFORMATION IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND CONFUSING TO SAY THE LEAST. ARE THE GAS FROM AKWAMU OF W ...
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WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THIS HISTORICAL COMMENTARY. YOU EITHER SHOULD HAVE LIVED IT OR OUGHT TO HAVE A SOURCE OF YOUR NARATIVE. THE INFORMATION IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND CONFUSING TO SAY THE LEAST. ARE THE GAS FROM AKWAMU OF WHERE EXACTLY SINCE THERE APPEAR CERTAIN NAMES AND REFERENCES THAT LEADS ONE TO CONFUSE THE GAS WITH THE AKWAMUS.
WISEMAN 11 years ago

GA WILL NEVER BE A REALL GHANAIAN NO MATTER WHAT THEY WILL WRITE TO FOOL US;THEY MET AKANS AND AKANS WELCOME THEM;THEIR HATRED FOR AKANS CAN NEVER CHANGE ANYTHING;

GA WILL NEVER BE A REALL GHANAIAN NO MATTER WHAT THEY WILL WRITE TO FOOL US;THEY MET AKANS AND AKANS WELCOME THEM;THEIR HATRED FOR AKANS CAN NEVER CHANGE ANYTHING;
C.Y. ANDY-K 11 years ago

Ade,

I just completed reading this long piece here, as I couldn't finish the private one yesterday. Had to go out. Brings back loads of memories and things I have been grappling with for a while now. I wonder where Superin ...
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Ade,

I just completed reading this long piece here, as I couldn't finish the private one yesterday. Had to go out. Brings back loads of memories and things I have been grappling with for a while now. I wonder where Superintendent Ahene Akwah's son who was my friend and mate in primary school in Anloga is now. He (the father) was stationed in Anloga as an Inspector before his promotion and return to Accra and all that incidence during the mid '60s. Wow! How that boy loved cracked palm nuts?

The responses so far showed people are confused about some gaps in the piece. I could fill them in with some general history aspects but don't have time for that now. After all, a reading of Reindorf would have answered some of those gaps, so I wonder why Mr Ammah didn't do that but created the impression that they were blank points in Ga history.

I was particularly amused by his glossing over of early Ga history which was closely linked to that of Ewes and Yorubas, prior to the migration to Ghana. I have tackled that aspect in my own piece which has been lying fallow for some years now. Might start serialising them pretty soon.

Anyway, the Gas did not found Little Popo nor Anexo in Togo. They only moved in to join the original settlers from Glidzi, where they were helped by the Anlos to settle after the first Akwamu sacking of Ayawaso. Anexo was founded by the fugitive Anyis (Anes, Agnis in Ivory Coast) after the fall of Denkyira and taking over of Elmina by the Asantes. Of course, the two new arrivals mixed with the local Ewes to form the Ge-nyi (Ga-Anyi)State with Anexo as its econ and commercial capital though Glidzi remained the political and spiritual capital.

BTW, Ganyobi? Who lied to you about the epithet Ayigbe? Of course, the descendants of those Ga fugitives are the real Ayigbes, not "pure" Ewes (if there's anything like that). I have a regular Ga customer here in London with a prominent Ga name who turned out to be one. She could reel out that history than nobody could, with stuff you won't find in any history book. Her only regret was that stories of voodoos in Anexo made her not to accompany her late father to visit Anexo before.

Finally, Mr Ammah seems to be a stickler for following tradition. He should have been clearer on selecting someone from a female descent as Ga mantse-elect in a patrilineal system, even when a precedent existed.

Andy-K
THE ONE AND ONLY WAHJAHKAMAN 11 years ago

Andy K,why not contact that Ga customer and document all those facts of Ga history she had?I'm really waiting to read your series too.

Andy K,why not contact that Ga customer and document all those facts of Ga history she had?I'm really waiting to read your series too.
C.Y. ANDY-K 11 years ago

I wish I were more industrious. I'd have done that. Besides, I have too much on my mind to take on that one too. She comes in regularly so I might ask her to document her story, as she is so eager to speak. I'll print this p ...
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I wish I were more industrious. I'd have done that. Besides, I have too much on my mind to take on that one too. She comes in regularly so I might ask her to document her story, as she is so eager to speak. I'll print this piece for her to motivate her.

Andy-K
ANDY-K 11 years ago

No, it is highly doubtful if the Gas met the Akans upon arrival at the Ayawaso area. Rather, they certainly met the Guans, just as everybody else. The Akans came soon after into contact with the already established Gas and ac ...
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No, it is highly doubtful if the Gas met the Akans upon arrival at the Ayawaso area. Rather, they certainly met the Guans, just as everybody else. The Akans came soon after into contact with the already established Gas and actually made the Akwamus their vassals until the incidence of the cutting of the foreskin of the Akwamu prince. As we all know - don't we - the Akwamus were one of the earliest most powerful Akan kingdoms. If they were vassals to the Gas, Akans can't claim early superiority over the Gas.

And when they moved to present Accra, the Les were already there. Le[gon] is the only reminder of their presence. They also left to join we Ewes in present Eweland, from Anlo to Togo, constituting some of our clans.

Andy-K

... 11 years ago

"
Apart from aggressions from neighbouring tribes in which Ga was always victorious". Stop lying. The GAs were whipped many times by the Akwamus. Check your history well.

"
Apart from aggressions from neighbouring tribes in which Ga was always victorious". Stop lying. The GAs were whipped many times by the Akwamus. Check your history well.
Me4U 11 years ago

Interesting history but rather confusing. Too many names and some obvious typological errors as well. I know Kanka-Bruce for example should read Nanka-Bruce. The writing is very long and heavy and it would be nice if it was r ...
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Interesting history but rather confusing. Too many names and some obvious typological errors as well. I know Kanka-Bruce for example should read Nanka-Bruce. The writing is very long and heavy and it would be nice if it was re-written for wider public interest and understanding.
YAW 11 years ago

Pure Akan history with a whiff of Ga embellishment.

Pure Akan history with a whiff of Ga embellishment.
ADIOS 11 years ago

IF IN THIS DAY AND AGE A CLEAR LINE OF SUCCESSION CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED WITHOUT THE ATTENDANT VYING AND JOCKEYING FOR THE POSITION BETWEEN RIVAL CLAIMANTS AND HOUSES THEN GOD HELP US. THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY, NOT THE DARK AG ...
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IF IN THIS DAY AND AGE A CLEAR LINE OF SUCCESSION CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED WITHOUT THE ATTENDANT VYING AND JOCKEYING FOR THE POSITION BETWEEN RIVAL CLAIMANTS AND HOUSES THEN GOD HELP US. THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY, NOT THE DARK AGES.
IF FACTIONS ARE GOING TO GO FOR EACH OTHER'S THROAT, THEN WHAT IS THE POINT?

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Sixty Years of Ga Politics[1] – E. A. Ammah

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