Abortive courtesy call on Ga Mantse not due to security threat -Ashitey

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey has clarified that the scheduled courtesy call on the newly installed Ga Manstse which was called off last week Thursdays was not due to a security threat.

Rather he said the decision to call off the visit was due to the fact that the newly installed Ga Mantse had equally important engagement of performing the traditional rites to usher in the ban on noise making and drumming.

His reaction followed the Ghanaian Times publication which reported that his planned courtesy call to the newly Ga Mantse was called off due to some security threats.

In the report, the Public Relations Officer for the Regional Coordinating Council was quoted as saying that “The grounds were not good” hence the programme had been rescheduled. 

However, speaking to the Ghanaian Times on telephone yesterday, Mr Ashitey said there was a clear miscommunication between the PRO and the journalist.

He explained that there was nothing wrong with paying homage to the new Ga Mantse, following his installation by the Ga Traditional Council.

“So far as I know the Ga Traditional Council has come out to say this is their chief, paying homage to the new chief was not a crime. My life was not threatened, there was miscommunication,” he said.

Mr Ashitey said there was some miscommunication on the part of the staff of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) as the message they conveyed was inaccurate.

He also denied having a hand in the misunderstanding that had characterised the Ga chieftaincy, adding that “I will do my possible best to bring unity among the Ga people.”

BY BERNARD BENGHAN