The kingmakers of the Ga Traditional Council and the Ga Dzaase will this morning file contempt charges against the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi Bonte, and Boni Nii Tackie Adama Latse II, for flouting a high court order restraining them from sprinkling the traditional kpoikpoi (Ga delicacy) during the Ga Homowo festival last Saturday.
Per the application which was granted, the applicants asked the court to stop the respondents and their agents “from sprinkling kpokpoi at Ga Mashie or pouring libation at Ga Mashie and the Abola Stool House or entering the Stool House at Abola or holding meetings or conferences at the Ga Traditional Council during the Homowo festival period until the final determination of the substantive suit.”
However, the spokesperson for the applicants(Ga Dzaase), Henry Addo, informed Today that the Gbese Mantse and Adama Latse acted contrary to the instructions of the court and went ahead to perform these rites which “amounted to gross disrespect to the court and an affront to the rule of law.”
He said the accredited kingmakers of the Ga Traditional Council have been angered by the action of Nii Ayi Bonte and Nii Adama Latse hence their decision to file contempt charges against them.
Nii Tackie Adama Latse II Nii Tackie Adama Latse II He claimed Nii Ayi Bonte and his cohorts were emboldened by the support they continue to receive from the government which was why they decided to flout the injunction.
He further claimed even though the regional Minister, Nii Afotey Agbo, all this while has stood behind Adama Latse’s installation, he did not attend the Homowo festival because he was aware of the court order.
Henry Addo pointed out that Nii Ayi Bonte and Adama Latse cannot claim not to be aware of the court injunction since their counsel in the person of William Adumua Bossman was served with the copy of the order.
“And once the Registrar of the Court files and it’s signed by the Chief Justice the order is deemed to have been granted,” Henry explained.
The substantive suit which is before the National House of Chiefs is challenging the installation of Mr. George Tackie Adama as the Ga Mantse.
According to them, Adama Laste did not go through the proper procedure of selection and installation to become the Ga Mantse.
The applicants contend that Nii Tetteh Akwei II is the only persons cloaked with the authority to install a Ga Mantse.
Henry Addo said the kingmakers are also questioning the alleged gazetting of Nii Adama Latse by the House of Chiefs which they believe was “fraudulently procured.”
“We want to know who installed Adama Laste as the Ga Mantse, who did the gazetting and who signed it”
He said as far as the kingmakers were concerned Dr. Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II has been installed Ga Mantse after going through the proper procedure of installation.
The hearing of the case has been slated for tomorrow August 18, 2015.
Meanwhile the climax of the Ga Homowo festival came off at the weekend without any incident, people turned out in their numbers to relish the occasion.
Contrary to fears that violence could mare the beauty of the event following the installation of a rival chief, nothing untoward happened as the police were firm on the ground to ensure the security of the participants.
Earlier, the Ga-Dangbe Youth Association has expressed worry about the decision of an Accra High Court to place an injunction on the Homowo festival.
According to the youth, that decision had the potential to foment trouble during the celebration of the Homowo at the weekend.
Speaking to Today in an interview, spokesperson for the Ga-Dangbe Youth Association, Nii Yemofio Yemo, said the court should have considered the overall interest of the Ga-state before granting the wishes of the applicants who represented a minority.
He said one needs to apply tact when dealing with chieftaincy matters since it relates to customary and traditional issues.
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