TENSION AT GA MASHIE

…As two clans fight over James Town Stool

NEWS DESK REPORT

There are signals of an imminent chieftaincy clash at Ngleshie Alata, James Town, as two clans, sit on tenterhooks and wait for an Accra Fast Track Court to determine the rightful chief in the area.

As the tension is peaking, followers of the rivalry groups, which include Nii Kojo V, who has been hauled to court by some chiefs, are gearing up for a possible show down in the event that the court’s ruling does not go in their favour, the paper’s checks in the area have revealed.

Nii Kojo V, who is known in private life as Ezekiel Quarmina Allotey, according to Nii Sackey Akumiah VI, Manste of Wetse Kojo We Ruling House of Adanss Division, Nii Laryea Lamptey, Head of Nii Kofi Akrashie We Ruling House of Adjumanku Dawurampong Division, Joshua Attoh Quarshie, Head of Otonkunor We of Adjumanku and principal elder and representative of Nii Kofi Akrashie etc., is not the rightful chief of the area, and that his continuous stay on the throne undermines the traditional values of Ga Mashie and a recipe for anarchy in the area.

According to the plaintiffs, by virtue of native customary law it is only they (the plaintiffs) who are entitled to elect or install someone as the chief of James Town Ngleshie Traditional Area, adding that any apart from them would mean a breach of the traditional values.

The plaintiffs further alleged that Mr Allotey Cofie is the son of one late W. C. Cofie of Sempe and a mother to the late Madam Delphina Oyoo Owoo of Owooman in Accra. This, they [the plaintiffs] contended, therefore means that Mr Cofie does not come near any of the four ruling houses of the Ngleshie Alata Mantse throne.

The plaintiffs added in their law suit that Nii Adja Kwao II, since 1959 until 6th July, 1978, had been the legal chief of the area until 1978 when Mr Allotey Cofie was installed as Mantse of James Town through the back door.

However, a grapevine source within the camp of Mr Allotey Coffie hinted the paper that anything apart from the court ruling in favour of the latter would be openly rejected, as they cannot comprehend why for many years, the plaintiffs in the case did not object to his enstoolment.

“Although we respect and are complying with the court, we are will reject any decision of the court that will go against us.
I am asking those who are complaining that why didn’t they complain long ago. For me I think they are just jealous of the reign of Allotey Coffie,” the source added.

Although our source did not disclose this, report the paper chanced upon during its investigations indicated that some youth group believed to be supporters of Allotey Coffie would in no time take to the streets to protest against what they described as “False tactics to destool their chief.”