The conflict over the legitimacy of the Ga King, Nii Tackie Tawiah III has been re-ignited by one of the factions in the Ga state. The Okaija faction in James Town says it will not allow the King to perform the traditional rites needed for the celebration of the Homowo festival next Saturday. Spokesperson for the side Rojo Mettle Nunoo, says the Ga King cannot hold himself out as such because he is not legally recognized. He has therefore asked the Ga King not to set foot at Gbese to perform any rites to avoid any mayhem. “This total disregard for law and order, with the apparent impression that they have state machinery like the police and the military from time to time being commandeered to facilitate their perpetration of the continuous contempt is not good for good governance. But for some of us restraining our people, there would have been mayhem.” With several chieftaincy disputes raging across the Ga state it is feared that the situation might disrupt a peaceful Homowo celebration. However, a spokesman for the Ga King, Nii Boye-Abbey said the state will enjoy a peaceful celebration because the threat of violence will not deter the King from going ahead to perform the necessary rights. “I doubt if anyone will be in that position to determine whether he can do that or not. I think it was clearly stated at the very last sitting of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs that until all cases pending against him are determined, he is obviously the Ga Mantse and no one can stop him from performing any customary rite. There have been violent clashes in the Ga State in recent times, and towns like James Town, Nungua and Osu all have fresh cases to resolve. Regional Minister Sheikh I.C. Quaye, is one man who has been persistently linked to the chieftaincy matters in the Greater Accra Region. The minister heads the Regional Security Council and his critics claim he uses the position to muzzle opposition to the Ga king. Sheik IC Quaye told Joy News he has scheduled a news conference on Tuesday to address all the outstanding issues of his alleged involvement in the chieftaincy matters. In the meantime though, the two factions won't have a truce until August 10th when the Homowo festival is celebrated in James Town.