The displeasure of the youth stem from the fact that Mr. Okine, who was known by the stool name of Nii Ayi Bonte II, was part of a group of traditional rulers who recently held a press conference in Accra to appeal to the President to invoke his constitutional powers to pardon the radio host and two panellists who were convicted for contempt by the Supreme Court.
A press statement issued in Accra and signed by the leader of the Concerned Ga Youth, Mr. Solomon Obodai, said Mr. Okine “does not represent the Gas and the general aspirations of the good people of Ga”.
The statement said that it is unfortunate for chiefs to dabble in what is clearly a sensitive political matter and even go to the extent of appealing for presidential pardon for the three contemnors.
“Chiefs are not supposed to get involved in issues pertaining to politics, and the behaviour of the Mr. Okine and his likes is disrespectful of Ga traditions and in our estimation it amounts to stooping too low, whiles it is also dangerous to the unity and cohesion of the Ga State” the statement said.
The Concerned Ga Youth are also worried and unhappy over the continuous claims by Mr. Okine that he is the Gbese Mantse when the National House of Chiefs has since July 2014 deleted his name from the National Register of Chiefs.
A letter written by the registrar of the National House of Chiefs to his colleague at the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs dated 29th August 2014 stated that the National House of Chiefs at a meeting held in July 2014 decided to remove Nii Ayi Bonte II, Gbese Mantse from the National Register of Chiefs.
“The House took the decision to remove the name on the strength of a judgment of the Supreme Court dated 15th January 2014 which nullified the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs dated 17th February 2003” the letter reads.
The press statement warned Mr. Okine to desist from parading himself as the Gbese Mantse or else he will equally be committing the offence of contempt, which has landed others into trouble.
“We also wish to admonish the general public to be very cautious in their dealings with Mr. Okine, whose actions and conduct are in clear violation of a judgment of the Supreme Court and the National House of Chiefs” the statement concluded.Story
Source: BRUCE MISBAHU BULMUO
