Ga chiefs refute claims of Yaote Otoga

Accra, Feb.12, GNA- The Ga Traditional Council (GTC) and the Ga Royal Paramount Stool Dzaase on Thursday refuted the claims by one Johnson Tackie Yarboi also known as Yaote Otoga as the Ga Dzaasetse and head of Amugi We.

They said the crafty and desperate behaviour of Yaote Otoga to seek a non existent certification to recognize his claims had long backfired. Nii Tetteh Kwei II, the Ga Dzaase, speaking at a press conference in Accra in reaction to an earlier conference organized by Yaote Otoga on February 5, 2009 at the International Press Centre said there is no other Ga Dzaase apart from himself, Nii Tetteh Kwei II. According to him Ga history has never known of any enstoolled Ga Dzaase with the name Yaote Otoga I, which Johnson Tackie Yarboi claims to be Yaote Otoga II.

He said John Tackie Yarboi was a distant relative of the late Ga Mantse, Nii Amugi II and surprisingly as soon as the death of Nii Amugi II was made public, Yarboi and others started scheming to claim the Ga Dzaasetse position which, in fact is the legitimate right of the Tetteh Kwei family.

He called on Yaote Otoga and his group to stop disturbing the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah III, who is the current President of the Ga Traditional Council, members of the Council and citizens of the Ga State.

Nii Tetteh Kwei II also cited the ruling of the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs on July 18, 2008 which gives him the authority to carry on with activities as the Ga Mantse.

Nii Okaija III, Gbese Mantse, who spoke on behalf of the GTC asked the media houses to cross-check all matters concerning chieftaincy and the Ga State with the GTC. He said the media had been too hasty and ready to give publicity to all manner of individuals to hold press conferences only to promote their misguided aims of illegitimate attacks on established institutions and in the process disparage some chiefs who were recognized members of the GTC and to cause public outcry from such misinformation. He said under the Chieftaincy Act, individuals who should be considered as chiefs were defined and the purpose of Councils of chiefs also clearly articulated. He said before admission to membership, chiefs were examined as regards their source of traditional legitimacy and custom that had been performed on their enstoollment into office. He said the GTC had its members such as chiefs and functionaries had been certified by its Research Committee and registered as chiefs. He said individuals such as Yaote Otoga parading themselves as Ga Dzaase leaders had never been installed as Ga Dzaasetse and presented to the Council for recognition or acceptance and therefore not qualified to make the claims he has arrogated to himself. 12 Feb. 09