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PRESS RELEASE
16TH JUNE 2011
NPP BEMOANS SITUATION IN THE GA STATE AND CALLS
FOR RESTRAINT
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) shares the deep anxiety and
disgust of residents in Accra and indeed all Ghanaians at
the seeming breakdown of law and order which has resulted in
the “enstoolment” of two Ga Mantse’s in Accra within one
week.
Ghanaians are aware of a sitting Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie
Tawiah, enstooled over five years ago. We are also aware of
suits filed against the said Ga Mantse, which are receiving
attention at the Accra Regional House of Chiefs at Dodowa.
While we all await the outcome of these suits duly filed
before the appropriate body, we have witnessed the chaotic
situation of the installation of two other Ga Mantse’s
subsequently.
It is reported that a group of people armed with guns and
machetes besieged the Ga Stool House (Sein Shia) in Ga
Mashie and brutalized occupants of the Stool House. Last
Saturday, a counter attack at the Stool House resulted in
further brutalization of innocent people and destruction of
property. On Monday June 13th the Ga Mantse’s Palace at
Kaneshie came under siege.
In all of these skirmishes, attacks and counter attacks, and
resulting brutalization and destruction of property, there
has been no response from the security agencies to restore
order, despite reports of several appeals to the Jamestown
and Regional Offices of the Ghana Police Service.
In the face of this chaos, there are further reports that
youth from other areas of Accra were mobilizing to attack
the supporters of the second Ga Mantse.
There are further reports of even a third claimant to the Ga
Stool and a resultant third “enstoolment”.
The lack of response of the Security Agencies to the
attacks, counter attacks and danger to life and property
since Friday at the Ga Mashie Stool House, and the siege and
takeover of the Ga Mantse Palace since last Monday is
baffling.
The decision of claimants to the Ga Stool, who have duly
filed claims at the regional body, to take the law into
their own hands, threaten public order, especially at this
time, when suits are pending, coupled with the seeming
apathy of national security agencies, raises a lot of
questions:
Do these agitations have the blessings of the Mills-Mahama
Government? Why was there no response to the attacks on the
Stool House and subsequent siege of the Palace despite
several appeals and warnings from the mass media by the
security agencies? What would have happened if supporters of
the Ga Mantse (Nii Tackie Tawiah III) who were restrained by
their leaders had mobilized to defend the Palace?
We are calling on the Security Agencies to uphold law and
order, in order not to let the situation degenerate further
into total chaos and bloodshed. We call on all Gas to
exercise restraint in these trying times. We also humbly
call on the Regional House of Chiefs to expedite action
urgently in the resolution of this all important issue that
borders on the peace of Accra, our national capital.
.....Signed.........
Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie
(General Secretary)
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