Otublohum Manye laid to rest

The mortal remains of the late Naa Densua IV, the Queenmother of Otublohum, one of the seven clans of the Ga State, was laid to rest on Saturday at the Otublohum Mausoleum at Pokuase.

Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, the Outoblohum Mantse and Acting President of the Ga Traditional Council, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Nii Kpobi Tettey Tsuru III, La Mantse, Eze Chukwudi Jude, the Igwe of Igbo Community in Ghana, were among the large group of mourners, who turned up to bid the beloved queen mother a final farewell.

The mourners, which also included Divisional Chiefs and Queen Mothers, were clad in red and black to demonstrate their loss and anguish.

Amidst the weeping and dirges at the funeral grounds, the “Asafotu” (traditional guns), strategically boomed to acknowledge the attendance of great traditional rulers.

Nii Ayitey Kaneshie I, Kaneshie Mantse, in an interview with Ghana News Agency, said the death of the late Naa Densua IV, was a great loss to the clan, describing the queen mother as ‘peaceful and meticulous.’

He stated: “A mighty tree has indeed fallen when groweth another? Ours is just a simple prayer God bless you in His care.”

As customs demands, Nii Aryitey said a new queen mother would be installed in time memorial.

He said the burial of a great king or queen mother required a lot of procedures and customs to be performed before the interment, which even could take two to three years for the preparation.

Naa Densua IV a daughter of Otublohum was known in private life as Madam Daisy Naa Kailey Ritcher and was fondly called Manye by family friends.

She was born on July 12, 1926, in Accra by Mr. John Godfred Ritcher and Christiana Dede Solomon of Asere both of blessed memory.

She died on August 29, 2015, at the ripe age of 90 at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.

Naa Densua IV started her early education at Accra Royal Girls School. On completion, owing to her keen interest in trading acquired a store at the Makola market and eventually took to textile trading and was also a passbook holder at the Mankoadze Fisheries.

She was enstooled as the paramount queen mother of Otublohum on July 23, 1973, and reigned until her death.

She was blessed with four children, 11 grandchildren 14 great-grandchildren.