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| New Ga Mantse Inducted |
2/28/2007 |
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Tuesday, 27 February 2007
The Ga Traditional Council yesterday performed certain rites at the Ga Mantse’s Palace in Accra which, it says, make King Tackie Tawiah III, known in private life as Dr Jo Blankson, the undisputed King of the Ga State. The Nai Wulomo, Numo Tete III, performed the rites, which involved libation and the slaughtering of a spotless white sheep whose blood was splashed on a shrine at the palace to signify his induction into the traditional council.
According to the traditional authorities, the ritual signified that King Tackie Tawiah III was the undisputed King of the Ga State and could now occupy the palace and assume the presidency of the traditional council. The ceremony was witnessed by some members of the traditional council, including the acting President and Sempe Mantse, Nii Adotey Obuor II, the Ngleshie Alata Mantse, Nii Kojo Ababio V, the Osu Mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo III, the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjetey Kraku III, and the Nungua Mantse, King Odaifio Wulentsi III.
The rest were the Otublohum Mantse, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, Akumajay Mantse, Nii Ayikai III and the Osu Alata Mantse, Nii Kwashie Anaefi IV. Some sub-chiefs of the Ga State were also present. In a short address after the ritual, Nii Adotey Obuor said as far as the traditional council was concerned, King Tackie Tawiah III was the only recognised Ga Mantse.
He said although the traditional council had heard about the nomination of other persons to the stool, nobody had been introduced to the council apart from King Tackie Tawiah and, therefore, he was the only one it recognised. Nii Adotey Obuor expressed confidence in the newly inducted Ga Mantse, and was hopeful that the new chief would use the knowledge he had acquired to help address the myriad of developmental challenges facing the Ga State.
He pledged the traditional council’s support to the Ga Mantse and called on the people of the Ga State to rally behind him for a successful reign. Nii Adotey Obuor further prayed for long life and divine wisdom for the Ga Mantse during his reign.For his part, Nii Kojo Ababio thanked Nii Adotey Obuor for holding the fort as the acting President of the traditional council in the absence of a substantive Ga Mantse. Responding to his acceptance by the traditional council, King Tackie Tawiah thanked the members for the confidence reposed in him.
He stated that governing any state was not the responsibility of only an individual and, therefore, called for everybody''s support. King Tackie Tawiah underlined the need for the people to unite, stressing, “We are all one people.” He asked for divine guidance and the co-operation of all so that, with one voice, they could recover the lost glory of the Ga State. According to King Tackie Tawiah, the glory of the Gas had only been covered by darkness and that they needed light to search and recover it. King Tackie Tawiah, known in private life as Dr Jo Blankson, hails from the Teiko Tsuru We, one of the Royal houses of the Ga State.
He was installed as Ga Mantse on June 11, 2006 to succeed the late Nii Amugi but his installation sparked off controversy as a section of the Teiko Tsuru Royal Family challenged his eligibility. Nonetheless, he subsequently swore an oath to the Ga State at Amuginaa and was also accepted by the Ga Traditional Council. Those ceremonies lent significant credence to his eligibility as Ga Mantse.
The new Ga Mantse holds a BA degree in Political Science from the Pace University in New York, an MA in Economics and a PhD in Public Law, both from the School for Social Research, New York. He also holds an LLB and a Diploma in Law from the La Salle University, Chicago. Until his installation as Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah worked with the National Develoment Planning Commission (NDPC).
D. Graphic
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