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The Ga Traditional Council has challenged the legitimacy of the installation of Dr. Kelvin Nii Tackie, as the new Ga Mantse.

The council said it only recognised Boni Nii Tackie Adama Latse II, as the only Ga Mantse for which reason it could not accept another installation.

Speaking at a news conference held at the Ga Mantse’s Palace in Accra yesterday, Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi Bonte II, said the Council did not know of Dr. Tackie’s installation.

Tackie was purported to have been installed last Sunday, as the new Ga Mantse, under the stool name, King Dr. Tackie Teiko Tsuru, by Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II and accredited heads and elders of the Dzaase.
Nii Ayi Bonte stated that “the council had already approved of Nii Adama Latse II and has been working with him without any obstructions and conflict of interest”.

He explained that Nii Latse, who is also known in private life as George Tackie-Abia, was gazetted by the National House of Chiefs as the Paramount Chief and Ga Mantse to succeed the late Ga Mantse, Nii Amugi II.

“Nii Latse has been performing all duties as the Paramount Chief and Ga Mantse and we are happy with his rule. It is therefore, surprising that any kingmaker will go ahead to install another chief,” he said.
He urged kingmakers in the region to do broad consultation with the council and other legitimate bodies when installing chiefs for stool lands.

Nii Bonte again urged the Ga State to ignore Dr. Tackie’s installation and rather focus on the upcoming Homowo festival, which, he assured would be celebrated under an atmosphere of peace and stability.

Earlier on Monday, the Office of Ga Paramount Stool in a statement, disowned Kelvin Nii Tackie and claimed he cannot be accorded the status of a Ga king.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, also waded into the controversy, describing the purported installation as “fictitious and an attempt to disturb the peace of the Ga community”.

He said the new chief had not been listed in the records of the Regional House of Chiefs and the National House of Chiefs, the authorities which back the installation of a chief by law.