The woes of the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah III, known in private life as Mr. Joe Blankson seem to be deepening by the day as some traditional rulers within the Ga State are calling on him to abdicate the respected stool to save the Ga people from further embarrassment. One of the traditional rulers, who believe that, King Tackie Tawiah III must save himself, the Ga people and more importantly, his family from further mockery by resigning, is Nii Amu Otia Penshiaku II, King of Onyaa (North East Gbawe). There shall only be peace in the Ga state when Mr. Joe Blankson relinquishes power, Nii Penshiaku noted adding that, he does not see the reason why the Ga Mantse should allow himself to be insulted or treated with contempt by ordinary people when indeed there is an easy route for him to maintain his respect and dignity. Speaking to The Independent in an interview last Friday, Nii Amu said the Ga Mantse is responsible for the confusion that have rocked the Ga state and marred the Homowo celebrations for the past three years and that it is about time he made an honest and fair assessment of the situation and advice himself accordingly. According to him, the processes that led to the enstoolment of Mr Joe Blankson as the overlord of the Ga State, were very questionable and exceedingly flawed hence the unending chieftaincy dispute in the Ga state. "Mr. Blankson knows the solution to the dispute and must act swiftly before the worst happens", he charged and queried, "If Joe Blankson is indeed the right person to lead the people of Ga Mashie, then why is the majority of the people opposing him". The Onyaa traditional leader, who describes himself as a King, conceded that, Nii Tackie Tawiah is a humble and respected person but added that, he (Nii Amu) has taken this tough position because his (Ga Mantse) enstoolment was not properly done. Nii Amu said as a chief who believes in the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution, he has the moral obligation to present the facts as they are no matter the consequences. Firing more salvoes, Nii Amu noted that, many Ga chiefs are responsible for the mockery and dereliction that other tribes associate Ga people with and explained that actions such as those of Mr. Joe Blankson and his like, present Gas as a laughing stock. He added that, it important for all traditional rulers within the Ga state to come out and weed out all illegitimate chiefs or kings amongst them. "We have over the years lost our respect as Ga chiefs because of the behavior of a few irresponsible people who want to be traditional leaders at all cost in spite of the fact that, they may not be the right people to ascend the throne", he charged . The Onyaa King urged Ga people to stop blaming other ethnic groups for the disrespect and scorn they continue to show to them (Ga people) and rather turn the guns on their own people particularly the so-called leaders. Again, he said no politician is responsible for their "predicament" but the Ga people themselves and pointed out that the only way the people can regain the respect due them is to make sure that the right people ascend to the throne. Alluding to a Ga proverb, Nii Amu said, “wo ni wo fee ni gbotsui he ba fulo”, meaning, "we have allowed holes to be punched on the sides of the anthill". According to him, the effect is that, it is the Ga people who have allowed their culture and traditions to be tampered with by strangers because of the shameful attitude of some Ga chiefs and elders. Nii Amu recalled that in the past, all Gas used to celebrate their Homowo festival together in peace but these days, they have to call on the police to give protection to Some people when they are celebrating their festival. He noted that, this is a clear indication that, all is not well with the Ga people and that the earlier something was done about the situation, the better for the people. He was saddened by the fact that, these days chieftaincy has been reduced to indiscriminate selling of stool lands and as result any Tom, Dick and Harry, wants to become a chief in order to rip the people off. Source: Independence/Ghana