Tag: GaDangme Council

“Sorry, I thought Gborbu-Wulomo was like Kwaku Bonsam” – Okatakyie Afrifa ‘begs’ angry Nungua elders

Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah, host of the morning show on Angel FM, has issued a heartfelt apology to the Nungua Traditional Council, the people of Nungua, and Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse, the overlord of Gadangme State.

In a public statement, Afrifa-Mensah expressed remorse for his previous comments, explaining that he was unaware of Gborbu-Wulomo’s status as the head of the Gadangme tribe when he made his remarks about an alleged marriage to a 12-year-old.

“If I claim to be a fighter for human rights and one day I wake up to the news that an MC officiating a programme says even my lord, Osei Tutu (Asantehene) is marrying a 12-year-old child, I would be so angry and I would say it the way I said it. However, at the time I was speaking on the matter, my understanding of Gborbu-Wulomo was that he was someone like Kwaku Bonsam [a fetish priest] because sitting here I didn’t know the Wulomo was the head of the Gadangme tribe. I thought it was the Mantse who was the head,” Afrifa-Mensah explained.

He continued, “So my understanding of who Gborbu-Wulomo was at the time of making those pronouncements was not that he was the overlord of the Gadangme Traditional Council…. So every Gadangme who is angered has a right to be angry.”

Acknowledging his misunderstanding, Afrifa-Mensah extended his apology to the Gadangme community and Gborbu-Wulomo, emphasizing his respect for tradition and customs.

“So I will base on that and apologise to the Gadangme community and Gborbu-Wulomo that per the misconception which the MC made the utterances was what I based on to make those statements in anger. I have respect for tradition and customs but at no point would we hide behind traditions and customs to do the wrong thing. That will not happen today or tomorrow, even if you put a gun to my head I will say it,” he stated.

The Ga Traditional Council had previously summoned Afrifa-Mensah to appear before them regarding his comments. The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse’s Palace on Friday, April 12, 2024.

“I have been instructed by the Elders of the Nungua Traditional Area to invite you to the palace concerning the false, unsavoury, and desecrating statements you made against Nuumo Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse, Overlord of the Gadangme State, and King Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of Nungua Traditional Area, during a radio show at Angel FM,” it read.

The invitation, issued by the elders of the Nungua Traditional Area, emphasized the importance of according the summons with utmost respect and noted that the outcome of the meeting could have significant implications for both parties involved.

April 10, 2024
Gborbu Wulomo is not married to 12-year-old girl – GaDangme Council

The GaDangme Council has clarified that the relationship between a traditional Ga priest and the 12-year-old girl is a betrothal, not a marriage.

Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo, faced criticism after a video surfaced online showing him in a ceremony with the girl, Naa Okromo.

The traditional ceremony, which garnered attention, occurred on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Nungua.

Gborbu Wulomo defended his actions by explaining that the girl would not be expected to fulfill marital duties.

In a statement signed and issued by its President Ayikoi Otoo, on Monday, April 1, the Council stated that it had engaged with Gborbu Wulomo and some of his elders.

GaDangme President Ayikoi Otoo

It is “important to clarify that the traditional ruler has stated that the relationship with the underage girl is a betrothal and not a marriage. This distinction to us has altered the legal implications.”

“We are inclined to side with the Gborbu Wulomo since the original reportage made the point that there was another ceremony that awaited the girl to purify and prepare her for procreation.”

The Council acknowledged that while betrothal could involve an underage person, it does not permit the person to engage in a sexual relationship, as this could jeopardize the child’s education and health.

The Council urged Gborbu Wulomo to address the issue, alleviate concerns surrounding the betrothal, and ensure the girl’s well-being and rights are safeguarded. They emphasized the importance of prioritizing her best interests, including her education, throughout the engagement process.

“She should continue her education until she reaches the legal age of marriage, and even marriage should not disrupt her education if she is still willing to continue.”

“The GaDangme Council also urges the parents of the child to keep an eye on her and let her understand that notwithstanding the betrothal demanded by custom, she is still a child and entitled to enjoy life and engage in youthful activities like all others of her age,” it stated.

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April 2, 2024
Dafeamekpor to sue Akufo-Addo over anti-gay bill

One of the backers of the recently approved anti-LGBTQ+ bill in Parliament, Rockson Dafeamekpor, has announced his plan to initiate legal action against President Akufo-Addo if he does not sign the bill within 14 days.

The Member of Parliament for South Dayi expressed his determination to bring the matter before the Supreme Court to compel President Akufo-Addo to fulfill his constitutional obligations.

In an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday, March 7, Mr. Dafeamekpor underscored that he and his fellow sponsors remain steadfast in their commitment to seeing the bill enacted into law.

“As soon as we remit this to his office, time will begin to count and after 14 days if he doesn’t exercise responsibility, I’m going back to the Supreme Court to compel him to perform his constitutional function. I will suit the President,” he said.

Additionally, the legislator dismissed Richard Dela Sky’s lawsuit against Parliament in the Supreme Court regarding the passage of the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, asserting that it is destined to fail.

He argued that since the bill has not yet become law, Sky cannot file a lawsuit against it. According to Dafeamekpor, the Supreme Court should outrightly dismiss the lawsuit.

“It will fail because the law is very definite on such a matter. My position is grounded in law and I am confident of this.”

“I expect the Supreme Court to throw it away. The Bill is not yet a law. It is part of a calculated agenda to delay it.”

The controversial bill, passed unanimously by legislators on February 28, 2024, proposes a three-to-five-year jail term for individuals promoting or sponsoring LGBTQ activities.

Those found engaging in such activities could face a minimum sentence of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years.

Despite mounting pressure from Members of Parliament, President Akufo-Addo has expressed his intention to withhold assent until the court issues a ruling on the matter.

March 7, 2024
We are not affiliated with GaDangme Lands Administration – GaDangme Council

The GaDangme Council has urged the public to exercise caution concerning a group identifying itself as the GaDangme Lands Administration (GDLA).

In a recent statement, the council clarified that GDLA has no affiliation or connection with them and lacks the authority or mandate to represent or act on behalf of the Ga and Dangme people.

In the statement dated February 6, 2024, the GaDangme Council expressed concern about a November 8, 2023, statement issued by GDLA claiming to speak on behalf of the GaDangme Council.

This statement purported to address issues related to land ownership and management in the Greater Accra Region.

“The attention of the GaDangme/Association has been drawn to a statement issued by a group, GaDangme Lands Administration (GDLA). The GaDangme Association hereby notifies the general public that it has no link or relationship whatsoever with the said entity.

“The GaDangme Council/Association notes that the GDLA issue the said statement dated November 8, 2023, on GaDangme Council/ Association forged letter,” the statement said.

The GaDangme Council labeled the GDLA statement as false and misleading, describing it as a deliberate attempt to impersonate and defame them.

The council’s statement read, “The GaDangme Association hereby notifies the general public that it has no link or relationship whatsoever with the said entity. The GaDangme Council/Association notes that the GDLA issued the said statement dated November 8, 2023, on GaDangme Council/Association forged letter.”

Furthermore, the GaDangme Council has reported the matter to law enforcement agencies and is pursuing legal action against GDLA for forgery and defrauding by false pretences.

The statement concluded with a call for the public to disregard the GDLA statement and assured that the Ga/Dangme Council/Association, led by Ayikoi Otoo, former Attorney General and Ghana’s former High Commissioner to Canada, is actively taking steps to report the case to law enforcement agencies.

“The general public is hereby called to ignore the said statement. Meanwhile the Ga/Dangme Council/ Association led by Ayikoi Otoo, former Attorney General and the former Ghana’s High Commission to Canada is taking steps to report a case for forgery and defrauding by false pretences against the GaDangme Land Administration (GDLA) to law enforcement agencies,” the statement added.

February 9, 2024
Building hostel for kayayei in Accra will not solve the problem – GaDangme Council to Government

The GaDangme Council has urged government to build technical and vocational training facilities in the northern region.

This it said will help the youth, especially young women who migrate to the capital for menial jobs, develop business skills.

That would be a better option for stemming the regular flow of teeming youths into the national capital for non-existent jobs, than a proposed construction of a hostel for kayayei (female head porters) in Accra.

The Council has in a statement therefore, urged the government not to go ahead with the advertised construction of the hostel for the head porters but return the land earmarked for the hostel project to its owners, in line with constitutional provisions on land acquisition and usage by the State.

The Council, in the statement signed by its president and former Attorney-General Ayikoi Otoo, and Registrar, Dr. Emmanuel Lamptey, also noted that “to construct hostels for Head Porters is to encourage more
unskilled female youth to migrate southwards because accommodation would be assured.”

“In our view, however, the safest solution to the challenges confronting those who migrate to cities particularly Accra, the capital, is the provision of vocational and technical skills
within the Regions where they migrate from. When that is done, the migrants having acquired skills, can go into local industries applying their vocational and technical skills to run their
small scale businesses instead of moving South for non existent jobs and becoming a burden on both central and local governments.”

Return our lands as you did for Kumasi

“Our immediate concern is that although the Constitution and other laws were used to either vest GaDangme lands in Government for its management and for compulsory acquisitions, yet the injunction that where the land is not used for the purpose for which it was acquired it should be returned to its original owners, is more honoured in its breach than the observance.

“Again whilst vested lands can be devested and the land returned to its owners which we saw recently explicitly demonstrated when parts of Kumasi lands were devested and returned to the Asantehene, same has not happened to many vested lands in Accra. The land on which the Kaayayei hostel is to be constructed was originally compulsorily acquired by the Government of Ghana for development into a recreational area, which would have included stadium, restaurants, cafeteria, boating and yatch club, open air cinema, hotel and restaurant, boat hiring, botanical gardens, public swimming pool, birds aviary, public tennis courts, bamboo bush hut, children play grounds, sight-seeing terraces, paddle boat hiring, cricket oval, badminton courts, volley-ball and football pitches, net-ball, basket-ball and hockey pitches and boat racing etc.

“A scheme known as Korle Lagoon Recreational Planning Scheme was developed to capture the above. Another project called the Accra Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project (KLERP) was approved and funds were sourced from Kuwait, aimed at improving the ecology of the Lagoon by eliminating the material inflows that are clogging the river basin through sanitation control. The project did not yield the expected dividends due to activities of those then residing at Sodom and Gomorrah. Eventually the land use was changed to a Market when Makola could no longer accommodate traders.

“Today, with the commencement of the construction of hostels, it is ample testimony that the original purpose has been abandoned. That being the case, the Council is of a strong conviction that in accordance with the Constitution and laws, the land should be returned to the original owners. The injustice involved in what is happening is that the Ga lands are to be used to resettle non-indigenes whilst there are several homeless indigenes living on the streets fighting for space and accommodation at Bukom, James Town, Chorkor and generally along the coast with no room for expansion. Even with the Government Estates which provide accommodation, the beneficiaries have embarked on massive extensions thereby rendering it impossible for there to be open spaces for social gathering.

“Therefore, since these indigenes also require land for construction and settlement, we propose that the land in question, be handed over to the Greater-Accra Regional Lands Commission to be held in trust and with the collaboration of the composite Ga, Gbese and Korle Stools and James Town Stool and the GaDangme Council for same to be parcelled out to deserving indigenes to use to provide accommodation for themselves.”

February 23, 2023