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In a striking revelation that cuts through the ongoing disputes surrounding the traditional leadership in the Greater Accra Region, Dr. King Ayi Tunnma, founder and president of the Ga Dangme Lands Administration (GDLA), has publicly declared that “there is currently no legitimate Ga Mantse reigning in Greater Accra”.*
His statement came out of an exclusive interview with online media network Ohim TV and aims to set the record straight amid escalating tensions and social media controversies.
Dr. King Ayi Tunnma was speaking in an exclusive interview with Ohim TV after a warm welcome ceremony was held at the Kotoka International Airport yesterday Monday 8th September 2025 in honor of the arrival of the US Delegation of the first Daughter of American Boxing Promoter Don King, Dr. Deborah King, who is a Queenmother MALTY NAA of the Lamashe-Naa’s palace in Tamale, Ghana.
She is currently back in Ghana to promote boxing development and other sporting activities in Ghana.
Dr. Deborah King, MALTY NAA arrived in the company of Naa Deede Odey Noyaa, West African Queenmother.
She is also expected to visit her royal town Tamale to embark on some projects.
The Ga Mantse Dispute: A Family Feud in Court
For decades, the office of the Ga Mantse — the traditional ruler of the Ga people — has been embroiled in internal disputes, splitting the once united royal family into factions.
Currently, two prominent contenders, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru and Nii Tackie Adama Latse, are vying for recognition, with their cases pending resolution in the courts. Dr. Tunnma emphasizes that “until the judicial system makes a definitive ruling, no individual or group can legitimately parade themselves as the Ga Mantse.”
“As it stands now, neither of the two has been officially recognized as the legitimate Ga Mantse. The court case is still in progress, and until a verdict is delivered, there is no recognized Ga Mantse in Greater Accra,” he stated firmly.
He further added: “Both locally and internationally we know that there have been disputes in the office of the Ga Mantse for some decades and even currently and they are all one family.
As it stands now, one family is recognising his Ga Mantse, the other family is also recognising his Ga Mantse but so far as this organisation is concerned we don’t have any legitimate Ga Mantse anywhere until that settlement and the dispute resolved by the Judicial court.
This is the only way this office will officially accept who is and who becomes the official legitimate Ga Mantse, that explains why we have no Ga Mantse at the moment. Anybody parading himself as the Ga Mantse is not legitimate as it stands currently.
As we speak, the case is still in court, so matters of the Ga Mantse between Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru and Nii Tackie Adama Latse in this case as it is still in court, who do we still recognise as the Ga Mantse?
The Role of the GDLA and Royal Dynasties
Dr. Tunnma, a descendant of the King Dua Quaye family and the Dzaasetse of the Dade Tutukpono, is also the indigenous Chief of Defence for the Ga Dangme Kingdom.
His organization, the GDLA, was established to resolve land and chieftaincy disputes within the traditional areas of the Ga and Dangme people.
He explained that the GDLA’s mandate is to bring peace and resolution to long-standing land litigations and chieftaincy issues that have persisted since Ghana’s independence.
The organization aligns itself with the four major royal clans of the Ga State — the Tunnma Royal Dynasty, Nii Koi Laryea Clan, Naa Ye Clan, and the Gbohu Clan — emphasizing their collective role as custodians of tradition and the Ga Dangme land.
“Our responsibility as the Tunnma Royal Dynasty is to ensure that disputes are settled, and land rights are protected. We work closely with the central government to uphold our traditional authority,” he declared.
He called for the introduction of a Negotiating Lands Policy Management.
“We have established the GDLA to resolve land issues and challenges dating back as far back as the days of Ghana’s independence. A lot of lands leased to the government have expired but successive Governments after government, have failed to renegotiate or pay the appropriate renewals or whatever that is due the Ga Dangme people,” King Ayi Tunnma lamented.
Call for Peace and Unity Amid External Controversies
Addressing recent social media conflicts, notably the Obak3 and Akwaaba controversies, Dr. Tunnma urged all Ghanaians to cease tribal and linguistic divisiveness.
He clarified that “there are no hostilities or conflicts between the Ga and the Ashanti people,” highlighting that the Ashanti is not a tribe but a confederation of various groups.
“Ga and Ashanti people are one family. We should not allow social media to create unnecessary divisions. It is very unfortunate a lot of challenges and issues have come up on social media as a result of Obak3 and Akwaaba controversy.
Viewers must listen and listen very well, we don’t have to allow this Obak3 and Akwaaba to create any disputed challenges between Ga’s and Ashantis.
There is nothing like that. Ga’s and Ashantis have always had a cordial relationship, so far as I know, we dont have any challenges between us at all so let’s ceasefire and stop the tribal commentaries on social media.
Most of the time when it comes to Akan tribe issues people only mostly target the Ashantis but Akwaaba is not the owner of Ashantis. Ashanti particularly is not a tribe, it is made up of a group of people.
So we Ga’s and Akans, we are all one, so I dont see why one jurisdiction has to take a decision about its language that has to affect another tribe.
So respectfully, both locally and internationally, as well as the diaspora, let us take this issue accordingly as one family Moobak3, Obak3 Mohee, is the language of the Ga Dangme people.
For some decades ago, it has been Akwaaba all along which is very nice but today we wish as Ga Dangme people to change it Moobak3.
Why should this issue create all kinds of confusion for Ga’s and Ashantis? No! No! No! This shouldn’t be at all, because we have 16 regions making up the Republic of Ghana. Every region has its own unique language being spoken.
Yesterday it was Akwaaba, we received it and accepted it but today we Ga Dangmes are only urging or wishing that it is Moobak3. Why should this be a problem? I don’t think this should be a problem. So Mr. Ashanti or Mr. Ga, this is not an issue that we must allow this to create all kinds of controversies. We are all one people and we shouldn’t be fighting ourselves. We have to work together. We have only one Ghana irrespective of the city of Accra.
We don’t want to say that if they should come and take the city out of here to any of the other regions, we still remain Akras, the city will not change us from Akra. Before the city will come from Central Region, we were already Akras which was not ACCRA but rather AKRA and we are Akras from Dangme from Jerusalem and we speak Ga. No city of Ghana can change our identity,” he emphasized.
Preserving Identity and Promoting Unity
He passionately argued that Ghana’s regions are unique in language and culture, but these differences should foster unity, not division.
“We are proud of our heritage, our language, and our traditions. No matter where you go or what political boundaries are drawn, our identity remains intact,”* Dr. Tunnma asserted.
Moving Forward: A Vision for Peace and Progress
As Ghana advances, Dr. Tunnma urges all stakeholders to focus on development, unity, and mutual respect.
His leadership through the GDLA aims to resolve lingering disputes and foster harmonious relationships among Ghana’s diverse peoples.
In conclusion, he called for an end to tribal rhetoric and social media provocations, emphasizing that Ghana’s strength lies in its unity.
“Let us work together as one Ghana. Our diversity is our greatest asset. We must cherish our traditions and uphold our unity,” he said.
