A claimant to the Ga stool is threatening to destool the Ga mantse, King Tackie Tawiah III by August this year. According to the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayibonte II, he should be destooled if he fails to carry out his promise of destooling the Ga Mantse. Nii Ayibonte issued the threat during a ceremony to lift the ban on drumming and dancing on Friday. Friday’s comments come only days after the Ga Mantse had won a landmark case in which a whopping GHS500,000 damages was slapped on the Jaasetse, another claimant of the Ga Stool. According to Nii Ayibonte, known in private life as Tommy Okine and who was until his enstoolment the Chief Executive Officer of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club, the Ga State has been left in a state of squalor, poverty, with children of school going age idling about. He said his heart bleeds over the situation, promising massive improvements and education next year, by which time he would have succeeded in destooling the Ga Mantse. He insisted that there is no Ga Mantse and that he will enstool one in August. His comments appear to have ruffled the nerves, not only of the the Ga Mantse but another claimant of the Gbese stool. Nii Okaija III told Joy News the threats must be taken with all the seriousness it deserves. He accused his rival, Nii Ayibonte II of being violent and lawless whose threats must not be taken lightly. He said per Ga traditions, the Gbese Manste has no right to enstool a Ga chief. Nii Okaija III said he has alerted the Regional Police Commander of the development. Meanwhile, spokesperson to the Ga Mantse, Nii Boi Abbey said the threats, even though “treasonable” must be treated with the contempt it deserves. He suspects the threats are only to mar the Homowo celebrations in order for the “Ga people to be seen as violent people.” According to him the Ga Mantse would rather concentrate on his sanitation as well as education programmes and will not be distracted by these threats. He described the comments as “lawless,” adding that if the Gbesemantse has any intention to be the Ga Mantse, he must avail himself of the right procedures. “The statement will not see us running helter skelter,” he said, but added that steps will be taken to notify the courts about a palpable contempt. He intimated that the Ga Mantse needs not inform the police about this threat, adding, the police must take the necessary steps to ensure peace in the Ga State. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interviews. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com.Ghana