The Gbese community of James Town in Accra has been the scene of a tense stand-off between the police and a section of the youth who oppose the reign of King Tackie Tawiah II as the Ga Mantse.

The two main factions in the chieftaincy dispute over the King’s installation are putting up two separate functions at the Bukom Square to commemorate the annual Homowo festival at the weekend.

Followers of Nii Tackie Oblie II from the Abola Piam faction who oppose the installation of Nii Tackie Tawiah III, had already mounted canopies at the Square for the celebrations when the police arrived to tell them that the Ga Traditional Council had already secured a permit for the venue for a similar ceremony in the afternoon to welcome Ga citizens returning home for the occasion.

The police were therefore asking the Abola Piam family to either relocate or call off their ceremony, however they objected and insisted they would go ahead with their planned celebrations.

The James Town Police Commander, Ousman Abdul Razak, who described the situation as a recipe for violence, said his office had only received the permit granted King Tackie Tawiah, and if the Abola Piam faction would insist on doing their own thing, the police would have to seek redress from the courts to avert any unpleasant clash.

The faction opposed to the King’s installation has over the past week been warning it would not recognise his authority and asked him not to set foot in the vicinity to perform any rites.

The Regional Security Council has also warned it would deal drastically with anyone caught disturbing the peace during the occasion.