Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has taken legal action at the Supreme Court, urging it to overturn a Court of Appeal decision that ordered the restoration of Nii Adama Latse II to the National Register of Chiefs as Ga Mantse. Through a certiorari application, King Tackie Teiko argues that the previous rulings violated his right to a fair hearing and must be quashed.
Represented by his lawyer, Professor Peter Atupare, the Ga Mantse contends that the High Court judge, Justice Frederick Tetteh, issued the restoration order in November 2021 without granting him the opportunity to respond. As a result, the application maintains that the decision breached the fundamental rule of natural justice.
Moreover, King Tackie Teiko asserts that the Court of Appeal, which later upheld the High Court’s ruling, also erred in law. The three-member panel, Justices Georgina Mensah-Datsa, Eric Baah, and Kwamina Baiden, allegedly supported a judgment that lacked jurisdictional merit. His legal team insists that this misstep led to a flawed outcome where two individuals now claim recognition as Ga Mantse in the official national register.
In addition, they argue the decision contradicts the Wednesbury principle, which requires administrative decisions to be rational and justifiable. Instead, the ruling has created confusion and legal irregularities within the chieftaincy structure.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the motion on July 23, 2025.
Meanwhile, the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi has filed a stay of execution. This move aims to pause enforcement of the appellate ruling while it seeks special leave from the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment.
Earlier this month, on June 12, the Court of Appeal ruled that the National House of Chiefs had no lawful basis for removing Nii Adama Latse from the register. The court emphasized that the removal lacked evidence of destoolment, death, or abdication. “The National House of Chiefs removed the name without any evidence of lawful grounds. This action was ultra vires, an abuse of power, and legally flawed,” the court declared.
Background to the Dispute
The dispute began in April 2021 when Nii Adama Latse discovered his name had been removed from the National Register. After confirming the removal through a formal search, he petitioned the National House of Chiefs to reinstate him. However, the House declined his request, prompting him to seek redress at the High Court in Kumasi.
The High Court granted his request, but the National House of Chiefs appealed, arguing that the High Court lacked jurisdiction for a judicial review of such matters. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed their challenge, reinforcing the earlier order to restore Nii Adama Latse’s name.
Clarification from King Tackie Teiko’s Office
Following the ruling, King Tackie Teiko’s office issued a statement on June 13, 2025, to clarify the situation. According to the statement, the Court of Appeal did not and could not confer chieftaincy legitimacy on Nii Adama Latse. It emphasized that only the Judicial Committees of the Traditional Councils and Regional and National Houses of Chiefs can decide on the rightful occupants of stools.
“The court merely upheld an administrative order compelling the National House of Chiefs to follow due legal process in maintaining or removing names from the register,” the statement explained. It added that the substantive issue of who rightfully holds the Ga Mantse title remains unsettled and is still under review at the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs.
The statement concluded by urging the public and the media to remain calm and avoid misinterpreting the court’s ruling. “We encourage all GaDangme citizens to treat this development with the caution it deserves,” the Office advised.
