King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II has asked the Supreme Court to cancel a decision that ordered the National House of Chiefs to restore Nii Adama Latse II’s name as the Ga Mantse (traditional ruler of the Ga people).
This issue began when a High Court in November 2021 directed that Nii Adama Latse II’s name be returned to the National Register of Chiefs. The register officially recognizes who holds various traditional leadership positions across Ghana. However, King Tackie Tsuru says he was never invited or informed about this case before the order was made, even though it directly affects him.
His lawyer, Professor Peter Atupare, says this goes against a key legal principle called “audi alteram partem”, which means “let the other side be heard as well.” He argues that since King Tsuru wasn’t given a chance to speak, the High Court’s decision is not fair or valid.
The legal team also says that the Court of Appeal wrongly supported the High Court’s ruling. They believe the court went beyond its power and that this has now created confusion. Right now, both Nii Adama Latse II and King Tackie Tsuru II are listed as Ga Mantse in the National Register, which is not supposed to happen.
They have asked the Supreme Court to throw out the decisions from both the High Court and Court of Appeal. They also say the ruling was unreasonable and goes against what is known as the Wednesbury principle—a rule used in law to judge if a decision is fair and makes sense.
The Supreme Court will listen to the case on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
In the meantime, the National House of Chiefs is asking for a “stay of execution”. This means they want to pause the order to restore Nii Adama Latse II’s name until the Supreme Court decides if the appeal can go ahead.
Background: Who Are the Ga Mantse?
The Ga Mantse is the traditional ruler of the Ga people, whose main area is Accra, Ghana’s capital. The position is highly respected and plays a big role in local customs, land issues, and community leadership. In recent years, however, there has been confusion and legal battles over who the rightful Ga Mantse is.
This case is part of a long-running chieftaincy dispute that has caused division in the Ga State, with different groups supporting different leaders. The courts are now being asked to bring clarity to the situation and help settle the matter once and for all.
