King Teiko Confirmed as Ga Mantse by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has brought finality to the protracted Ga Mantse chieftaincy dispute by quashing a Court of Appeal ruling that had reinstated Nii Adama Latse II onto the National Register of Chiefs.

Presided over by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, the apex court ruled unanimously that the June 12, 2024 decision by the Court of Appeal violated the constitutional right to natural justice of the current Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.

This landmark judgment upholds the authority of King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, who remains the recognized Ga Mantse, effectively nullifying the Court of Appeal’s attempt to restore Nii Adama Latse II’s name.

The Supreme Court’s intervention followed a certiorari application filed by King Teiko’s legal team, led by Professor Peter Atupare.

The application challenged the validity of earlier rulings, arguing that the courts failed to afford King Teiko a fair hearing before ordering the reinstatement of Nii Adama Latse.

The contested ruling at the heart of the matter was the High Court’s November 2021 decision, which directed the National House of Chiefs to restore Nii Adama Latse’s name. That judgment was later affirmed by the Court of Appeal, despite opposition from King Teiko’s camp.

King Teiko’s lawyers argued that the appellate court committed an error of law by endorsing a ruling that was made without jurisdiction and contrary to the principles of administrative justice.

They further maintained that the decision could lead to an illogical scenario where two individuals are simultaneously recognized as Ga Mantse — a breach of customary and legal frameworks.

The dispute stems from April 2021, when Nii Adama Latse discovered that his name had been removed from the National Register of Chiefs without official communication or explanation. His efforts to reverse the action culminated in the High Court’s mandate for reinstatement, sparking a legal contest from the National House of Chiefs and King Teiko.

In response, the National House of Chiefs filed for a stay of execution at the Supreme Court while pursuing a separate application for special leave to appeal. They maintained that their decision to expunge Nii Adama Latse’s name was within their mandate, citing the absence of formal recognition, death, destoolment, or abdication as grounds for removal.

However, the Court of Appeal disagreed, ruling that the House of Chiefs had acted ultra vires (beyond their powers), and ordered that Nii Adama Latse’s name be restored within 14 days — a decision now overturned by the Supreme Court.

In a press statement dated June 13, the Office of King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II reiterated that no civil court has the jurisdiction to determine or confer chieftaincy titles. The authority to recognize a Ga Mantse, the statement stressed, lies solely with the Judicial Committees of the Traditional and Regional Houses of Chiefs.

Source: Liberalprint.com