The National House of Chiefs (NHCs) has been directed by a Kumasi High Court presided over by Justice Frederick Tetteh to re-enter Nii Tackie Adama Latse II name into the National Register of House of Chiefs latest by November 25, 2021.

The judge gave the 14-day ultimatum to the President of the NHCs led by Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II, Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area in the Western North Region and his members on Thursday, November 11, 2021.

His Lordship Tetteh said: “I hereby order the restoration of the name of the Applicant Nii Tackie Adama Latse II into the Register of Chiefs at the National House of Chiefs by the Respondent and its Registrar within 14 days from today. For the avoidance of doubt on or before the 25th November 2021.”

The High Court made the order and awarded a cost of GH¢25,000.00 against the NHCs (Respondent).

The order follows an instant application brought against the NHCs by Nii Tackie Adama Latse II for expunging his name from the National register of chiefs, as the Ga Manste.

Per the application, Nii Tackie Adama Latse II accused the NHCs of unlawfully, unjustifiably, and acting ultra vires for expunging his name from the National Register of Chiefs. 

Nii Tackie Adama Latse II, therefore, told the court that his nomination, vetting and enstoolment, as the Ga Mantse and his name subsequently entered into the National Register of Chiefs as the Ga Mantse on the 24^th April, 2015 was legitimate.

The applicant further urged before the court that he has since performed his functions administratively and customarily.

However, his ordeal with the NHCs started in somewhere October 2020, when he was elected by the Greater-Accra Regional House of Chiefs, as one of its five representatives of the National House of Chiefs and they were to be inducted on November 12 same year. 

He added that on November 10, 2020, his nomination was challenged by one Nii Tetteh Ashong V who filed an order for the prohibition against him.

The chief added that, on March, 29, 2021, the High Court in Kumasi granted the prohibition order on the grounds that an appropriate body or institution to determine the legitimate occupant of the Ga Mantse Stool before the induction.

Nii Tackie Adama Latse II explained that the NHCs prohibited him from the induction pending the final determination by the appropriate body or institution of who is the legitimate occupant of the Ga Mantse Stool. 

The chief said on April 1, 2021, the NHCs called a meeting to discuss issues of his prohibition, however, the day ended without any resolution on whether his name should be expunged from the register or not.

On April 12, 2021, a search conducted at the Registry of the NHCs, revealed that his name has been expunged.

He added that efforts made to have his name re-entered into the National Register of House of Chiefs had proven futile, meanwhile, he has never misconducted himself, abdicated nor have been destooled by the Kingmakers of the Ga State. 

The NHCs, on the other hand, contended that, the act of removal and or entry of names into the Register of Chiefs do not constitute adjudication and to that extent, same is not amenable to the writ of mandamus.

The House argued that it acted on an order directed at it by another High Court and further stated that the matters of chieftaincy lies within the purview of the Supreme Court since the High Court does not have jurisdiction to hear and determine the instant application.

Nonetheless, the court held that: “I have also had the opportunity of reading the ruling delivered by my brother Alibaba Abature J and formed the view that nowhere in the said ruling did he hold or order that the Applicant’s name should be expunged from the Register of Chiefs. 

“This court in its ruling dated the 28th July 2021 determined the issue of jurisdiction and accordingly assumed jurisdiction over the instant application.” 

The court, therefore, advised the NHCs that it is a principal actor in the chieftaincy institution, hence, it must ensure that, it conducts its activities in a manner that it does not bring its name into some disrepute.

According to the court, the NHCs should live up to their name in order to bring to a halt communal violence, breach of the peace, fatalities, poor development and poverty, which are the result of protracted chieftaincy disputes.

“The above-stated effects of protracted chieftaincy disputes can be reduced if among others institutions like the Respondent live above reproach and determined to apply the law rightly, in order to instill discipline and maintain the dignity of the Chieftaincy institution. The above, will in my view stem the tide and most importantly, facilitate the developmental agenda of the country,” he stressed.