The Supreme Leader of the Manste Ankrah Royal Family, Otubluhum Dadebana Naa, Nii Adjabeng Ankrah II, has expressed disappointment with Gebese Mantse, Dr. Nii Ayi-Bonte II, citing disrespect during the Odadaa rites held on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
He stated that the Adonten of the Ga State disrespected him and his entourage upon their arrival to participate in the traditional rites, which aimed to lift the ban on drumming and noise-making.
Social media was flooded with videos of the incident, which some described as a clash involving Nii Adjabeng Ankrah II, while others portrayed him as an uninvited chief ostentatiously adorned in gold ornaments.
In response to these allegations and footage, Nii Adjabeng Ankrah II unequivocally asserted that he was the rightful ruler from a traditional household that had engaged in past ceremonies in preceding years with an official and traditional seat at the ceremony dating back years.
He emphasized that the Dadebana Naa Total Gate, one of the seven royal gates in the Ga State, holds an official seat at the ceremony and has consistently participated in the activities annually.
He explained, ‘Our royal gate has an official seat at the ceremony. We have participated in the past and continue to do so. I am not an invited chief; I am the legitimate Supreme Leader of our royal gate.’
Addressing the criticism about his use of gold, he noted, ‘Our traditional stool recognises the use of gold by our Supreme Leaders. Those who preceded me used it, and this tradition has been passed down to me.’
He denied that there was any clash, stating, ‘To Ghanaians who have seen the videos and claim there was a clash, I wish to state categorically that there was no clash.’
He said, ”Our royal gate has an official seat at the ceremony. We have participated in the ceremony in the past. I am not an invited chief, but I am the legitimate Supreme Leader of our royal fate. The claims that I was adorned in gold as a show off were most disrespectful. Our traditional stool recognizes the use of gold by our Supreme Leaders. Those who came before me used it, and it has been passed down to me. Therefore, if anyone should make such frivolous claims, it would be most unfortunate. To Ghanaians who have seen the videos and claim there was a clash, I wish to state categorically that there was no clash”.
Nii Adjabeng Ankrah II referenced Nii Obrempong Ankrah, a late traditional Supreme Leader, who also participated in the rites, supported by photographic and documentary evidence.
He added that he had interacted with the Gbese Mantse on several occasions and admonished him to recognize the Otubluhum Dadebana Naa’s integral role in the rites.
“The Gbese Mantse should acknowledge our integral role and responsibility in the ceremony, as our participation is essential for the performance of certain rites. The ceremony is a collective heritage of all traditional leaders in the Ga State, not the personal property of the Gbese Mantse, and therefore, he cannot unilaterally undermine this long-standing tradition. As a traditional gate, we have a legitimate right to participate. Given the recognition accorded to us by the Wulomei, the Gbese Mantse should not bar any officially designated participant from engaging in the ceremony.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
