James Town Mantse marks 32nd anniversary

Published in the Daily Graphic on 15/06/2010, pg 18

Story: Matilda Attram
A durbar of chiefs, queens and the people of James Town has been held in Accra to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the enstoolment of the James Town Mantse, with a call on the Gas to use this year's Homowo festival to unite.
Prior to the durbar, the James Town Mantse, Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, led his people to attend a thanksgiving service at the Anglican Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity.
Attended by a cross section of the chiefs and people of the Ga State, the events also marked the 90th birthday celebration of Nii Ababio V, who is also known in private life as Mr Ezekiel Quarmina Allotey Cofie.
Speaking at the durbar, Nii Ababio V, stated that the people of the Ga State enjoyed relative peace through unity citing James Town as one of the towns within the Ga State to have maintained the peace, and expressed the hope that it would continue.
"Today James Town enjoys relative peace in the Ga Traditional area, not because of my extraordinary capabilities but because the chiefs and people of James Town have accepted that in circumstances, jaw-jawing is a superior mode of arbitration. We have lived with love for one another ,and that belief is what has kept us going," he stated.
Sharing his experience as the chief of James Town, Nii Ababio V indicated that although he encountered bad times , he depended on God as well as the people of James Town who supported him in all activities.
He used the opportunity to express gratitude to the people of James Town and the Ga Traditional Council for co-operating with him to succeed, and gave the assurance of his continuous support towards the development of the area.
"For thirty two years as a chief and ninety years of existence would definitely have come with their own strains and pressures that may have led me to give up on patience on many occasions but for your love and support, I wouldn't have made it this far.
‘’Let me use this opportunity to ask for forgiveness from any that I have by utterance or action offended and let us continue enjoying our peace for the progress of our area and country," he concluded.
In his sermon, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of the Province of West Africa, the Most Rev Dr Justice Offei Akrofi, encouraged Christians to seek God's intervention in their activities and remain faithful to Him so as to enjoy His blessings.
Goodwill messages were delivered to Nii Ababio V for to his immense contribution towards the development of the Ga Traditional State and the nation.
Personalities present to grace the occasion included the former Vice President of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the NPP Chairman, Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the former Mayor of Accra, Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawia Quaye, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-Gen Augustine Blay, the Vice President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and Prampram Mantse, Nene Tetteh Djan, among others.