The Ga-Dangme Concerned Group has debunked allegations that chiefs from Ga-Dangme areas have been engaging in active partisan politics.

The president of the group, Nii Ayaafio Tetteh I, stated at a press conference held at Osu on Wednesday, December 14: “Prior to the 7th December polls, some of the chiefs in the Ga State said negative things against the president-elect. This has encouraged some Akan media stations to say that Ga-Dangme chiefs are into active politics.

“We the Ga-Dangme Concerned Youth debunk this assertion. It is not all who are with the chieftaincy [who have] shown this [bias].”

It will be recalled that the chief of Gbese, Nii Ayi Bonte, at a durbar prior to the December 7 polls, swore to vacate his stool if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lost the elections.

According to the former board member of Accra Hearts of Oak, if Nana Akufo-Addo won the election and subsequently got sworn in as president of Ghana on 7 January, 2017, he would destool himself.

Following Mr Akufo-Addo’s victory in the presidential elections, several individuals have called on the chief to abide by his words.

The editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako, has even suggested that it was unwise for the chief to make such comments during a discussion on Peace FM’s ‘Kokorokoo’ on Wednesday 14 December.

“This morning, I watched something on Metro TV which I’m happy about and laughed throughout. The Gbese Mantse, my own friend in football – because we both support Accra Hearts of Oak – they replayed his video and when he was called on phone today he said he was not granting interviews,” he stated.

“He has also vamoosed into a rat hole… Do you see the point we were making that it was unwise for chiefs to put themselves in that partisan way and [that] some of them went to the extreme? Now you went to sit at a durbar, a public space, and pledged to abdicate if one party loses. Why would you make such a pledge? This is total lack of wisdom and wisdom is a key attribute of chiefs or chieftaincy; it’s a requirement. When we were speaking, they didn’t listen. You have somebody who consistently engages in political buffoonery out there insulting our intelligence. Today, the chief has been disgraced, he is hiding in a hole and when he is called, he says: ‘I’m not granting interviews.’ They should drag him out of the hole and put the microphone right in front of him to talk so we can listen.”

Mr Baako further quizzed: “Now, all the other chiefs who are listening, do you see the wisdom in the point we were making? What control does the chief have over his subjects who vote in secrecy?

“This should tell people the wisdom…in the constitutional injunction that chiefs ought not to play an active role in active party politics. Apart from short people like us who admonished them and they weren’t listening, they had a guy like Koku Anyidoho running riot and abusing and insulting everybody. Where is he? He should get out from the rat hole and come here…”

Without making a reference to anyone, the Ga-Dangme Concerned Group said they “would like to end by saying that this should serve as a big lesson to all chiefs and their council members, the security forces and government workers not to meddle in active politics”.

In a press release following the conference, the group thanked President Mahama for readily accepting defeat and upholding the peace of the country.

They thanked all stakeholders in the election and expressed confidence in the yet-to-be-inaugurated NPP government.

They also called on all prominent members of the new government with Ga-Dangme lineage to ensure that all chieftaincy and land-related issues in Ga-Dangme areas are resolved to promote peace and development within the country.

Chief of Kokrobite Nii Ofei III, Chief of Kaneshie Nii Nikoi Ashalley, Korle Wulomo Nuumo Okai I, Gbeseamontsewe Blafo Nii Amon Tetteh I, and spokeperson of the Nai Wulomo of Larkote Aduawushie Ozonkponu Mills were some of the elders present at the press conference.


Below is the full statement from the group:


Nii Ayaafio Tetteh I and his executives wish to condemn the recent acts of seizure of tollbooths and public toilets. It is alleged that the NPP sympathisers are responsible for this unfortunate development.

In another spectrum it is also alleged that some NDC sympathisers deliberately put on NPP outfit (regalia, polo shirts, T-shirts, etc.) to cause mayhem and pandemonium in certain parts of Accra.

In retrospect, during his Excellency President Kufour’s assumption of office, this unforeseen development happened so it was with the late President Mills’ administration. This was replicated during President Mahama’s era, so it is with the President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo.

We, the Concerned Youth of the Ga-Dangme wish to condemn this recent act, canker, pandemonium and cacophony. This must stop!

We appreciate the role of the security forces before and during the election. The security challenge after election is what matters more. Please, let us be proactive since property lost and human resources all belong to Ghana as a nation.

We also take this platform to congratulate the EC and her staff, Peace Council, observers and any other organisations that aided in this recent election to be successful.

Above all, we congratulate President Mahama for the maturity and statesmanship he has shown during this recent election. Also to the president-elect for the 7th December polls.

We have a firm and strong belief that the president-elect will deliver on his promises.

We the Ga-Dangme Youth will be focused and use our lenses to critically observe the state of affairs. We shall praise when it is needed and critic when we have to, all in the interest of mother Ghana.

We also throw a challenge to the strong Ga-Dangme leading members in the NPP, namely:

1. Rev Prof Mike Ocquaye
2. Hon. Nii Odoi Sykes
3. Hon. Stanley Blankson
4. Hon. Ayikoi Otoo
5. Hon. Ofei-Darko
6. Hon. Ishmael Ashitey
7. Sheik IC Quaye

We have a big challenge on chieftaincy on Ga-Dangme land. We strongly believe that if the land is saddled with chieftaincy issues, the development on the Ga-Dangme land shall be compromised and will be a mirage.

Please help promote peace to help the president-elect to deliver and promote the Ga state.

We will also like to reiterate that prior to the 7th December polls, some of the chiefs in the Ga State said negative things against the president-elect. This has encouraged some Akan media stations to say that the Ga-Dangme chiefs are into active politics.

We the Ga-Dangme Concerned Youth debunk this assertion. It is not all who are with the chieftaincy who have shown this bias.

We will like to end by saying that this should serve as a big lesson to all chiefs and their council members, the security forces and government workers not to meddle in active politics.

Thank you.

.....Signed....

Nii Ayaafio Tetteh I
President, Ga-Dangme Concerned Group

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com