Ghana is a Republic, it has no Kings nor Over-Lord or whatever…
So Ghanaians are stuck with our non-performing elected President unless a Constitutional process is successfully triggered for his removal and replacement.
Ghana is a Unitary State with no Federations hence no part of Ghana can be under a different set of Laws, Policy…
President Akufo-Addo’s call on the unelected Chiefs of Ghana to fight Galamsey because 80% of Ghana’s Land is under their jurisdictions is suspect…
President Akufo-Addo took Chairman Wuntumi whose Akonta Mining Galamsey activities has destroyed forests, farmlands, rivers and water bodies to the Manyhia Palace signalling his lack of seriousness in fighting Galamsey…
Ghana is made up of different Tribes each headed by Chiefs who sit on Stools…
Different Traditional area has its unique Chieftaincy Code and Customary laws…
In Ashanti and Dagbon the operate under one Chief with subchiefs…
Whereas the Oyoko Clan produced the Chief for the Ashantis who by the convenant of the Golden Stool had accepted the Kumasihene to be the Asantehene and arrowhead.
The Akyem people have three divisions of Akyem Bosome, Akyem Abuakwa and Akyem Kotoku with their capital being Kibi.
The Akyem people unlike the Ashanti are not under one Chief…
In the Ga, Dangme and Ewe areas the system is much different from the Ashanti but more like the Akyem, as individual areas have their own Chief who is not under any other.
So the La Mantse is not under the Osu Mantse nor the Tema Mantse under the Ga Mashie Manste.
The Ga People have Akutsei.
In the case of Ga Mashie between the Lighthouse and the Ussher Fort they have Sempe, Ngleshie Alata, Akungmadzen, Asere, Otublohum, Gbese and Abola.
Abola is the where the Ga Mashie Manste is from and where the Stool is.
The La People also have Lenshie, Klanaa, Agbawe, Nmashi Abonase, Nmashi Dzrasee, Abafun, Abese and Kowe.
Kowe is where the La Mantse is from and the La Stool or Jaase is.
The La Jaasetse is from Kowe.
The La Mankralo is from Sanshie.
The La Shikitele is from Nmashi Abonase.
The La Akwashongtse is from Lenshie.
The Chieftaincy Institution with its different Manifestation in different Traditional areas in Ghana is guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
The Government of Ghana established Traditional Councils in the various Traditional areas to advice the Chief or Mantse who is the President with representatives of the Akutsei being his advisors.
There has been a distortion in the structure with the belated elevation of the La Stool to a Paramouncy.
The Ga Mashie Akutseiatsemei were erroneously being called Mantsemei thus La Akutseiatsemei also started referring themselves wrongfully as Akutseiatsemei.
The Divisional Status of the La Akutsei upon the elevation of the La Stool to the Paramouncy should not have affected the nomenclature as it was did not alter the internal hierarchical arrangements.
In the Dangme areas the elevation of the Stools to Paramouncy and creation of Divisions did not result in nomenclature changes.
The distortion included the added complication of creation of Divisional Councils parallel to the the original Traditional Council.
Traditional Councils are staffed by the Local Government Ministry with a Registrar appointed by government.
The Traditional Councils are distinct and different from the Stool or Jaase.
Traditional Councils cannot sue or be sued and do no own Land nor can act in any capacity relative to Lands which are vest in the Mantse on behalf of the Stool.
Any member of the Traditional Council (advisor to the Mantse) purporting to act as the Mantse or assuming the function of the Mantse is acting ultra varies as determined severally by the Courts of Ghana including the Supreme Court.
It will be illegal for any member of any Traditional Council other than the Mantse to exercise executive authority reserved for the Mantse who represents the Stool.
Such Council Members hold only advisory positions and cannot sign any document(s) purporting to grant lease or extend lease or appoint any body to a committee or to hold trusteeship in the absence of the Mantse who acts on behalf of the Stool.
The Regional and National House of Chiefs and the Traditional Councils are functions and levers of the Ghana Government which it uses to relate with the Chieftaincy institution and coordinate their activities and indirectly rule their subjects and dispense Judicial functions in local communities and in Chieftaincy disputes.
Just as Ghana practices the Presidential system of governance and not the Prime Ministerial system;
The Ga People unlike the Ashanti People are not under a single Chief or Council…
America and UK are working fine for their people despite the difference in systems of governance…
80% of Ghana’s Lands according to President Akufo-Addo are under Chiefs.
The Land Looting, the ill-gotten wealth, sheer Greed and Corruption associated with the FIDUCIARY duty of Chiefs has motivation people to want to become Chiefs at all cost even if they do not hail from the appropriate family lineage and bloodline to qualify them to ascend to any Stool or Skin.
Such miscreants are often aided by politicians, business persons, criminals, money launderers, Galamseyers to become Chiefs so they can get access to the Lands they hold in trust.
ACT 1036 has inherent safety nets of ensuring Transparency and Accountability or punitive sanctions including hefty fines and prison sentences.
President Akufo-Addo promised to RESOLVE THE CHIEFTAINCY AND LAND ISSUES IN THE GREATER ACCRA REGION BY THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2021.
STAY TUNED!
By Prince-Derek Adjei