Supreme Court Overturns Kumasi High Court Decision in Ga Mantse Dispute

The Supreme Court of Ghana has quashed a ruling by the Kumasi High Court that sought to reinstate Nii Tackie Adama Latse II as the Ga Mantse. The unanimous 5-0 decision, delivered by a panel presided over by Justice Dzamefe, affirmed that the High Court erred in granting relief to Nii Adama Latse without hearing the other party, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, also known as Nii Terku Tsuru II.

The court held that the principle of natural justice was breached when the High Court failed to give Nii Terku Tsuru II an opportunity to be heard before making a decision that affected his status. As a result, the Supreme Court has set aside the ruling, effectively confirming Nii Terku Tsuru II as the legitimate Ga Mantse, pending any further traditional or legal determinations.

The chieftaincy dispute between the two figures has persisted for years, marked by competing claims to the Ga Stool. In 2021, Nii Adama Latse’s name was removed from the National Register of Chiefs without any formal notice of death, abdication, or destoolment. He later secured a ruling from the Kumasi High Court directing the National House of Chiefs to reinstate his name, a move that triggered legal resistance from Nii Terku Tsuru II.

Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision, leading Nii Terku Tsuru II to file a certiorari application at the Supreme Court. His legal team argued that the lower courts’ rulings were procedurally flawed and ignored his right to a fair hearing.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, the council and legal team of Nii Terku Tsuru II expressed satisfaction with the outcome. In an interview, a spokesperson stated that the ruling was a clear affirmation of due process and justice, and called for calm among all Ga people. According to him, the ruling was not only a legal victory but a moral one that restores confidence in the judicial system.

The legal battle may not be over, as the substantive matter regarding who properly occupies the Ga Mantse Stool is still pending before the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs. For now, however, the Supreme Court’s decision maintains Nii Terku Tsuru II’s recognition as the Ga Mantse, while nullifying any attempt to reinstate his rival without proper hearing.

By Bawa Musah