Nii Yaotey Oto Ga II Demands Restoration of Nii Tackie Adama Latse I’s Name to Register of Chiefs

A faction in the Ga Mantse dispute, led by Nii Yaotey Oto Ga II, the Ga Dzasetse, clad in striking red attire, has called on both the National and Greater Accra Regional Houses of Chiefs to respect a unanimous Court of Appeal ruling delivered on June 12, 2025 by immediately restoring the name of Nii Tackie Adama Latse I to the National Register of Chiefs, as the legitimate Ga Mantse.

Addressing a news conference in Accra yesterday, the Ga Paramount Stool Dzase, led by Nii Yaotey Oto Ga II, the Ga Dzasetse, expressed deep concern over what he described as “embarrassing” attempts by the President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, to appeal the judgment and file a stay of execution – actions the group says contravene both the law and established tradition.

“The National House of Chiefs is not above the law,” Nii Oto Ga II stated firmly. “Article 270(3)(b) of the 1992 Constitution clearly mandates the House to register chiefs and publicly notify their status. We cannot allow this institution to be used to undermine due process and tradition.”

Background to the Dispute

The chieftaincy dispute dates back to the passing of Boni Nii Amugi II in 2004. Following his death, the customary obligation to bury him and install a successor fell to the Dzasetse.

Nii Yaotey Oto Ga II was subsequently installed and in accordance with Ga custom, buried the late King and installed Nii Tackie Adama Latse I as Ga Mantse in 2011.

In 2015, Nii Tackie Adama Latse I was duly gazetted and entered into the National Register of Chiefs, after processes through the Ga Traditional Council and the Regional and National Houses of Chiefs.

However, in October 2017, Kelvin Tackie (Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II) was installed as Ga Mantse. Subsequently, Nii Adama Latse’s name was removed from the Register, an act described by the Court as lacking any legal basis.

Court Ruling and Legal Arguments

In its 57-point judgment, the Court of Appeal in Kumasi, presided over by Justices Mensah-Datsa (Mrs), Eric Baah and Kwabena Baiden, dismissed the appeals filed by both the National House of Chiefs and an interested party.

The Court affirmed that the removal of Nii Adama Latse’s name was procedurally flawed, violated Article 23 of the Constitution, and disregarded the Chieftaincy Act (Act 759).

The Court ruled that only death, abdication, destoolment, or a court or judicial committee order could justify such a removal. None of these conditions had been met.

“The Appellants… are advocating chaos and confusion,” the Court ruled, warning that accepting the National House’s argument would erode the integrity of the chieftaincy system.

The Court ordered that Nii Tackie Adama Latse I’s name be reinstated within 14 days and imposed costs of GH?50,000 jointly against the two appellants.

Nii Oto Ga II questioned whether the decision to appeal was a collective one by the National House of Chiefs or a unilateral move by its President.

He called on the House to immediately withdraw the appeal and comply with the Court of Appeal’s ruling.

“We believe in the rule of law and appeal to the House to honour the decision,” he said, also calling on the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to intervene and uphold peace and justice in the Ga State.

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