Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, is also the president of the Ga Traditional Council.
The Ga overlord, known in private life as Dr Kelvin Nii Tackie Abia Tackie, was inducted on Saturday 9 May 2020 in the presence of leading chiefs who owe allegiance to the Ga paramountcy, amid tight police security.
The Dzaasetse of the Ga Stool and principal kingmaker for the Ga State pronounced him the legitimate occupant of the presidency of the Ga Traditional Council.
Induction
The ceremony at which Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru was inducted as president of the Ga Traditional Council was graced by the Otublohum Mantse, Nii Doodoo Nsaki, the immediate past acting president of the Ga Traditional Council. Also present was the Sempe Mantse, Nii Adote Otintor.
As the Dzaasetse and principal kingmaker, Nii Dr Tettei Kwei led the ceremony.
In line with tradition, he stepped out, stood next to Nii Teiko Tsuru, lifted his right hand three times and pronounced him the legitimate holder of the presidency of the Ga Traditional Council.
The ritual drew involuntary cheers from the audience in the palace as well as the crowds of people massed outside.
Before kingship
Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, 49, is a descendant of the legendary Tackie Tawiah I, who consolidated the Ga State in the 1800s and established Accra as the capital of the Gold Coast in 1877.
He is a scion of the Nii Teiko Tsuru We of the Akropong Royal House of the Ga Royal Stool and his mother is a member of the Lante Djan We/Naa Oyoe We of Abola Piam.
He holds an Master’s degree in strategic management and consulting from the Business School of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), as well as postgraduate qualifications in sanitation science and project management.
Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II was nominated and installed as Ga Mantse in 2017. His installation followed a 16-year chieftaincy dispute among various factions of the royal household, all of which were laying claim to the Ga throne.
One contender for Ga Mantse who was relentless in his pursuit of the stool is Nii Tackie Adama Latse II. Adama Latse was inducted into the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs by a renegade faction mere days before the installation of Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru. The group is believed to have broken into the stool house to gain access to the premises.
Check out this snippnet of #SundayNight with @NanaYaaMensah5 in a conversation with Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II (King of the Ga State)
Don't miss it! 7pm sharp…#SundayNight#asaaseradio#TVoL pic.twitter.com/834B5dxnMr
— Asaase 99.5 Accra (@asaaseradio995) October 17, 2020
Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, Otublohum Mantse, the then acting president of the Ga Traditional Council, issued a statement demanding that the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs reverse the induction of Nii Adama Latse.
The installation of Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II took place at the palace of the Ga State in North Kaneshie, Accra, making him the fifth Ga Mantse to occupy the stool since the passing of Nii Amugi II in 2004.
He graciously invited Asaase Radio to an audience at his private home in Accra. In conversation with the host of Sunday Night, he spoke at length about the origins of the chieftaincy dispute, his hopes for restoring long-term order in the governance of the Ga State and his vision of a brighter future for the Ga people.
Nana Abena Boakye-Boateng
* “Sunday Night” with Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II airs on Asaase Radio 99.5 tonight (18 October), starting at 7pm. You can watch streaming of the interview on Asaase Radio’s Facebook and YouTube platforms. The programme will be repeated on Tuesday 20 October, starting at 7pm.
* Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
* Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
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