Heavy Police Presence At Ga Mantse Palace

There is heavy security at the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra to forestall a possible bloody clash as two factions lay claim to the stool. Supporters of the new �Ga Mantse� who was installed last Sunday, Nii Tackie Adama Latse II, are reported to have succeeded in seizing the two main powerhouses of the Ga kingdom, the main palace and the offices of the Ga Traditional Council. Spokesperson for the widely recognised Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah the III, had accused the police of failing to provide adequate security because the legitimate King�s destoolment was perhaps spearheaded by some officials of the governing NDC Government. Explaining the presence of the police at the Ga Mantse palace, the Acting Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Cephas Arthur told Citi News his men are only there to maintain law and order, and that calm was gradually returning to the area. According to him, although the Palace and its precincts are relatively calm, the police are not taking the situation lightly �The place is quiet and there is peace here but the Police don�t take anything for granted. It is our responsibility to provide security and to maintain law and order. So irrespective of the situation, we are still on the ground ensuring that the atmosphere continues to prevail so nothing untoward happens. We are here strategically; you may come here and will not see any plain-clothed personnel but there is police presence here. �We have not less than four armoured cars supported by about ten cars with personnel engaged in strategic patrolling because this is a strategic operation. Very soon, we shall redeploy and change our tactics. We are wide awake� he stated. DSP Arthur could however not confirm or deny reports that a new Ga Mantse has taken over the Palace. �We don�t know about that. That is not our primary concern. Our primary objective is to ensure that we provide security and deter potential troublemakers to ensure that there is peace. As far as the chieftaincy issue itself is concerned, the Police have no real part in it� he noted. Meanwhile, Nii Boye Abbey, the Spokesperson for the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah, has also denied reports that the Palace has been taken over. The new 'King'�s installation was performed by some kingmakers of the Ga State at the main Ga Stool House. His supporters later took over the Traditional Council at North Kaneshie on Monday June 13, where the new 'King' is expected to address the press. This was after they had taken over the Palace at James Town. The new �King� is a London-based businessman known in private life as George Tackie, and hails from Piam, one of the Royal Houses within the Ga state. The enstoolment follows threats by Gbese Mantse Nii Ayibonte II, to enstool a new Ga Mantse by August 2011. He insisted that the Ga state currently had no king, dismissing the installation of Nii Tackie Tawiah III who has been acclaimed as the Ga Mantse and recognised as the chairman of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs. Nii Ayi Bonte, known in private life as Tommy Okine, and who until his enstoolment was the CEO of Accra Hearts of Oak was, swore before a gathering last week that he should be destooled if he fails to enstool a new chief. The Gbese Mantse accused the erstwhile Kufuor administration of imposing Nii Tackie Tawiah on the Ga People. He mentioned former Tourism Minister, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, former Greater Accra Regional Minister IC Quaye and former Accra Mayor Adjiri Blankson as responsible for the "problems" in the Ga state. However, the Spokesperson of Nii Tackie Tawiah III has described the enstoolment as a �sacrilege and an insult to the Ga throne� Nii Boye Abbey said the supposed new chief had his parents �adopted into the Teiko Tsuru We� and is �nowhere close to the throne.� He also accused persons within the ruling NDC government of supervising the sacrilegious act mainly because they have always believed that King Tackie Tawiah was installed by the erstwhile NPP administration. He mentioned the Ga South DCE, as well as the twin brother of the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodio constituency, and some national security operatives as supervising the act. Nii Abbey said the action flies in the face of rule of law and says they will take legal action against the claimants. He described as �untrue� the rival faction�s claim of seizing the Palace and the Traditional Council.