Rancour within Dzraase Quarter of La – Lomo ‘we’ sets the record straight

The Head of Lomo ‘We’ (formerly called Nii Adjei Gbeke We) of Dzraase Quarter Nii Lomo Ogyensu III and his elders held a press conference at their family house in La over the weekend to iron out what they described as an illegality being perpetuated on them by the Adjei Nkpa We in an unlawful act of installing a certain Theophilus Ala Annang as Dzraase Mantse.

Nii Ogyensu III stated that there are two main families under the Dzraase Quarter namely the Adjei Nkpa We and Adjei Gbeke ‘We’ and so after the demise of Nii Adjei Nkpa I who was then only acting as a Chief of Dzraase Quarter under some peculiar circumstance at the time, the attempt by Nii Adjei Nkpa ‘We’ to install another person from the Adjei Nkpa We as Chief of the Dzraase quarter is very wrong and would not be countenanced whatsoever.

He said, in reality and per the un-adulterated history of La with particular reference to Nmati Dzraase Quarter, “it’s clear and settled truth that the true heirs to become Chief or leader of the Dzraaase quarter always come from the Adjei Gbeke ‘We’ per our long standing covenant institutionalized by our grandfather who established the Dzraase Quarter comprising of these two families which he formed by marrying two different women.”

A brief history reveals that the brouhaha is arising out of the fact that their grandfather’s first marriage couldn’t produce a child and hence the second Marriage which gave him his first son called Adjei who later became Adjei ‘Nkpa’ or Adjei ‘Onukpa’ because soon after his birth the first wife also gave birth to another son who was also named Adjei and hence Adjei ‘Gbeke’ according to Ga traditions.

However interesting, the grandfather decided to bless the first family which is the Adjei Gbeke We(Originally called Lomo We but for the distinction between the two brothers the Lomo We was lost along the line) with the leadership of the Quarter at all times through the covenant mentioned above.

He said, per their grandfather’s decree or covenant with the two wives, the leader or Chief called ‘Akutsotse’, the ‘Wolomo and ‘Amlakuatse’ were always going to be drawn from the family of the first wife which is Adjei Gbeke ‘We’ and the Adjei Nkpa We will only play the role of ‘Manye’ or Queenmother as well the ‘Asafoatse’ at all times.

Nii Ogyensu III stressed that it is however imperative for their family to go back to their original name which is the Lomo ‘We’ if that is what is creating the confusion in the minds of the Adjei Nkpa We because of the literal translation of the Gbeke and the Onukpa (Nkpa) and with the unanimous decision by the entire elders who were gathered at the press conference the name Gbeke was withdrawn and the name Lomo was duly re-introduced.

He said, it is also very important for them to draw the attention of all peace loving people in Ghana particularly La to this development within the Dzraase Quarters which has the tendency to result in break of law and order and disturb the peace of this country ahead of the General Election in December.

“we are resolved and would make sure this illegality doesn’t happen, not in my time… so
we have written official letters to the state agencies concerned especially the IGP and La Traditional Council and others to take steps to stop this illegality”
Nii Ogyensu III alleged that “the acting Head of Nii Adjei Nkpa We Asafoates Ala Korkor has conspired with other smaller houses in the quarter and on 20th November 2016, against La customs and traditions and amidst gun shot, firing of musketry purported to announce the choice of one Theophilus Ala Annang as Dzraase Mantse which I describe as the dark days in Dzraase. And this singular unlawful act is recipe for chaos and disaster which has the tendency to lead to break down of law and order in Dzraase.

The question which I wish to ask is who gave the organizers of unlawful event the permit to carry out that function. As peace loving people and law abiding people, am calling on all the persons in La especially the Traditional Council, the Flagstaff House all security Agencies and peace loving Ghanaians to treat the said event with all the contempt it deserves as Theophilus Ala is not qualified to hold himself as a Chief in Dzraase even as we take all lawful steps to set aside the criminal act which has the tendency to lead to mayhem and break down of law and order, I have appealed to members of my family to exercise maximum restraints in the face of these provocative and condemnable act by Theophilus Ala Annag who should be disregarded from holding himself as Dzraase mantse.”

Quoting portions of the constitution to buttress his points Nii Ogyensu III stated that “Section 5,7(1) of Chieftaincy Act 2008, act 759 defines a chief as a person hailing from the appropriate family and lineage has been validly nominated, elected or selected and enstool, enskinned or installed as a chief or quenn mother in accordance with the relevant customary law and usage.”

He added that “It is also important to note that it is a criminal offence under section 63(a) of the same act 795 for a person to act or perform function of a chief when that person is not qualified to act and therefore calling on the director general CID and La police commander to commence an investigation to the criminal conduct of Theophilus Ala Annag.”