History seems to be repeating what happened on July 25, 1946, at Old Polo Ground, Accra. On that day the Ga State held a durbar with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, KBE, as the Guest of Honour.
The office of the Ga Mantse has confirmed that all preparations are in place for the momentous visit of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to the Ga State scheduled for Sunday, June 9, 2024. The Planning Committee Chairman, Nii Boi Abbey, unequivocally stated during a news conference at the Ga Mantse Palace on Thursday, June 6, that the upcoming visit by the Ashanti overlord marks a significant milestone in the history of the two kingdoms.
“The visit will culminate in a special durbar hosted by King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse. This historic visit reaffirms the enduring friendship between the Gas and Ashantis and underscores the Ga Mantse’s active participation in the Asantehene’s recent celebration of his 25th anniversary on the throne,” he declared
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According to him, “Gas and Ashantis have had extensive interactions, which have led to the exchange of cultural practices, traditions, and ideas. Interestingly, the interactions between Gas and Ashantis over the centuries have culminated in common themes in the areas of governance, inclusiveness, and specific cultural practices including family structure, traditional dances, the structure of the calendar year, taboos, defence mechanisms, and historical interactions with other tribes.”
He added that the durbar of the two gallant royals will be used to promote peace ahead of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December this year.
“The Office of the Ga Mantse, therefore, invites all to witness this great moment in Ghanaian traditional history at the forecourt of the Ga Mantse’s Palace in Kaneshie, Accra, at 11 am on Sunday, June 9”, Nii Boi Abbey appealed.
The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, speaking on radio, disclosed his family’s connection with Asante Kings, rooted in his father’s collaboration with former Asantehene, Opoku Ware II, in Manhyia. His father earned a scholarship to King’s College in Cambridge for his PhD in Architecture, subsequently joining the Department of Architecture at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology as a senior lecturer, and later taking on leadership roles.
He described his limited time in the capital, mainly for travel purposes. His brief stint during National Service at GBC provided him with insights into the city’s dynamics.
“The only time I came to Accra was when I was travelling out of the country. Even when I did visit, I would immediately catch a domestic flight or STC bus to Kumasi on the same day. There was nothing that held me in Accra. Although we learned some Ga customs at home, we were never truly part of Accra,” King Tackie Teiko Tsuru said.
Historians say Asante-Ga relations cannot be discussed without the name Nii Kwabena Bonnie III, Osu Alata Mantse, aka. Oyokohene of Techiman (Takyiman). In 1946, he hosted the Asantehene, Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, and his 500-strong retinue at his residence, the Royal Castle and its precincts when they were in Accra at the invitation of the Colonial Governor for the inauguration of the 1946 Constitution – Burns Constitution.
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When in 1947, Nii Kwabena Bonnie formed the Anti-Inflation Campaign Committee in Accra in response to the inflated retail prices on goods imported into Ghana by European firms, he travelled to Kumasi to solicit the assistance of Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Prempeh II in making his plan a national protest. The Asantehene readily agreed by word and deed, gifting Nii Kwabena Bonnie with sums of money towards his noble goal.
In a related development, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has stated that there is a strong connection between Asantes and Gas. He addressed the previously assumed hostility between the Gas and the Asantes in Ghana during a courtesy call by a delegation from Ga Manste, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.
Otumfuo revealed that he has had positive relations with the heads of the Ga State; stressing his close relationship with Nii Amugi II, the late King, even before he ascended the throne.
The Asantehene explained that he used to visit Nii Amugi II regularly and that their friendship continued after he became the Asantehene in 1999.
He also emphasized the ongoing collaboration with Nii Amugi II’s successor, stressing further the unity between the Asantes and Gas.
“There is a collaboration with his successor as well. We are one”, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said.
According to the Asantehene, the perception is mainly due to the complexities and vagaries of politics.
Many Ghanaians see Otumfuo’s clarification as timely as there is a presumed hostility between the two groups in the country.
Two years ago Otumfuo Osei Tutu had to address misconceptions about the relationship between his Kingdom and the Ewes during the 2022 Hogbetsotso Za.
