Gbese Mantse, Nii Okaidja III, has vented his spleen on the Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times, accusing the two state owned newspapers of fueling chieftaincy disputes in the Ga State.
According Nii Okaidja, he could not fathom why the two state newspapers continued to disobey the existing restraining order in suit no. GTC/JC6/2008 dated 8th August 2008 to the effect that Nii Ayi-Bonte II should not hold himself as Gbese Mantse or Adonten of the Ga State; neither should anyone accord those titles to him.
In a rejoinder signed and issued by the personal assistant to Nii Okaidja III, Naa Korkor, and copied to Today yesterday in Accra, he relayed that ?Daily Graphic on Saturday August 4, 2012, made reference to the Adonten of the Ga State as being Nii Ayi Bonte thereby referred to him as the Gbese Mantse contrary to the existing restraining order.?
The disgruntled chief?s argument stems from the fact that Daily Graphic published part of the order which stated that the order shall last until the final determination of the matters raised therein, indicating that the paper is also aware of further ruling in suit No. AP 164/2012 dated the 23 February 2012 of which His Lordship Justice K.A. Ofori Atta presided.
He indicated that on July 31, 2012, six years since his (Nii Okaidja) enstoolment and for the first time ever, a surprised, unexpected? restraining order was placed on him, ironically, the 31st July 2012 was the second tactical adjournment date which fell on the last day before the two-month vacation by the judiciary.
According to him, ?It is also important to remind the Daily Graphic that the new restraining order against he (Nii Okaidja) does not vacate, set aside or overrule the earlier one set against Nii Ayi-Bonte, arguing that referring to him as Gbese Mantse and Adonten of the Ga State is a clear contempt of court.
Articulating on the publication in the Ghanaian Times, the statement remarked that Ghanaian Times which is very much aware that: there is a restraining order that Nii Ayi Bonte not call himself or to be called Gbese Mantse and Adonten of the Ga State, on page 3 of its Monday, 13thAugust 2012 publication reported the ?Ga Mashie Homowo celebration;? and in the article, Nii Ayi Bonte) was referred to as the Gbese Mantse and the Adonten of the Ga State.
He added that in the above publication the Ghanaians Times indicated that Nii Ayi Bonte spoke for and on behalf of the Ga Traditional Council.
?It is this very same Ga Traditional Council which ?Nii Ayi-Bonte and his henchmen attacked, with offensive weapons, on that fateful day of 13th June 2011 and installed a so-called Ga Mantse; when, in fact, the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah III has NOT been destooled, has NOT abdicated or has died! The event was well covered by the Times publication,? he narrated.
The statement argued that ?What right therefore, has such a person to speak for or on behalf of the Ga Traditional Council? To date, the legitimate chiefs, the bona fide members of the Ga Traditional Council are deprived of their fundamental rights to meet at the Ga Traditional Council in order to perform their chiefly duties.?
He relayed that the Gas are deprived because of the fearful attack, intimidation and the continuous illegal occupation of the premises by the culprits.
The statement lamented that the appropriate authorities seem to be watching this unhealthy, unsafe situation without any show of the slightest concern.
?If only all of us will abide by the rule of law which has been so vigorously campaigned since the coming of this Administration, there will be no room for these chieftaincy disputes which does nothing but denigrate the institution of chieftaincy and the dignity of the Ga people,? the statement concluded.
STORY: NEWS DESK REPORT
