The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, on Friday filed for a review of the ruling of the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra House of Chiefs at Dodowa asking him to open his defence. The ruling was in respective of a suit challenging Dr. Jo Blankson’s nomination and installation as the Ga Mantse. Willie Amarfio, counsel for Dr. Blankson, arguing for review of the ruling, said the panel erred in giving the ruling in favour of the petitioner, Owula Kpakpa Brofonyo, the Ga State Akwashong Manste (supreme warrior). The panel on July 18, turned down a submission of "no case" filed by the Ga Mantse’s counsel on the grounds that the respondent had a case to answer and that the petitioner, who is an interested party, was not wrong in bringing the case against the Ga Mantse. The panel also called for the hearing of the case, explaining that the panel was a fact-finding body which should bring out the truth of the matter. Mr Amarfio argued that the motion for review was based on their discovery of a new information which indicated that one person could not institute a case for enstoolment or destoolment. Citing a number of Supreme Court rulings, he said it was wrong for the panel to turn down the submission of "no case" because, apart from the petitioner not being a kingmaker, one person cannot institute a case for destoolment. "Only a body of people with legitimate capacity can institute a case for enstoolment or destoolment of a chief," he said, adding, "the petitioner is running a one-man show." Although counsel for the panel, Samuel Klayson, reminded him that the petitioner was not seeking the destoolment of the chief, Mr. Amarfio said the relief being sought by the petitioner, although not explicit, would amount to destoolment of the Nii Ga, if granted. Mr. Amarfio said the panel also erred in stating that it was essentially a fact-finding body, pointing out that its functions included determining rightful occupants of stools. Among other things, the petitioner who says he should have been involved in the installation process but was not, is seeking the annulment of the purported election, nomination and installation of the Ga Mantse because it did not follow Ga custom. Adu Gyamfi Boadu, counsel for the petitioner, responding to the motion for review, asked the panel to dismiss it because it has no basis. He said the petitioner was not seeking the destoolment of anybody because in the first place, "we do not recognise anyone as having been rightly installed as Ga Mantse." Bright Akwetey, counsel for Nii Yaya Arday, head of Abola Piam We, one of the four ruling houses in Ga Mashie, who is also challenging the installation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse, supported the dismissal of the application for review. There are a total of five cases, now consolidated, challenging the election, nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse. The case was adjourned to August 22, for a ruling on the review application. Source: Times