Legal tussle over late Ga Manye’s funeral as court grants injunction

The funeral of the late Ga Manye, Naa Dedei Omaedru III may face some hurdles.

This follows a brewing misunderstanding between the planning committee and the bereaved family.

The Ga Manye who died in December 2022 is scheduled to be buried this weekend per the arrangements of the funeral planning committee as approved by the Ghana Traditional Council.

However, her family has opposed portions of the said plans stating that they have not been involved in the process as they ought to per the Ga tradition.

Aggrieved by this, they have secured a restraining order from the High Court to stop the funeral rite of the Ga Manye.

“It is hereby ordered defendants/respondents or the funeral committee chaired by Nii Otintor II, all members of the committee, their privies, workmen, assigns and all persons working through them are restrained from handling, organising, touching, performing or dealing with the remained of the Late Queen Mother, Naa Dedei Omaedru III in any manner for a period of ten (10) days,” the court said.

The plaintiffs in the case are: Nuumo Emmanuel T. Antia We, Head of the Antie We of Kpone, Nii Addey Oba-Aasaa II, Ankobea of Antie We of Kpone, Shippi Antie I, Saduase Shippi Kpone, Charles Nii Kotey Kotey, Head of Naa Dedei Omaedru We Family of Faase, Accra, Asafoatse Nii Kotey Ga II, Oseahene of Ga Manye Stool and Principal Elder of the Naa Dedei Omaedru We of Faase Accra, Michael Nii Ofei Danso of unnumbered House Accra, Principal Elder of Naa Dedei Omaedru We of Faase Accra and Naa Yomofio, Linguist of Ga Manye Naa Dedei Omaedru We.

Meanwhile, the organisers say they will proceed with the ceremony on Saturday, October 28, despite the injunction.

 A member of the funeral planning committee and the Ga Adangbe Council President, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, stated in a Citi FM interview on Wednesday that have not been served with the court processes.

“We don’t know anything about the injunction. These days, lots of things happen on social media. There may be things going around on social media, but I don’t think that as of now anybody has been served. I’m a member of the funeral committee, I have not been served with anything. We haven’t seen anything, so we don’t even know the extent of that order. What is it about? Is the Ga Traditional Council named as a party to the defendants?”

If I give you work to do as a subcommittee or appoint you as an agent, and you have a problem, who do you sue? Is it me or the agent? Why is the Council out? The remains of the late queen mother is that a funeral? The injunction is clear that it’s about the body, you wait and see what happens. When they serve us, we will deal with it,” he said.

Background

Naa Omaedru, 88, was known in private life as Naa Dedei Ablah. She was installed Ga Manye in 1963 when she was 29.

She passed away at her Dansoman residence, surrounded by her loved ones, on December 26, 2022.

During her reign, Naa Omaedru was credited with devoting her life selflessly to public and voluntary service and championing important issues crucial to peace, education and opportunities for young people, especially the girl-child.

These include seeking the welfare of the girl-child and women to safeguard their future, and setting a remarkable example of leadership to queen mothers in the Ga State.

She also stood for peace and unity and promoted these, among not only the people of the Ga State but also all Ghanaians, and advocated a united approach to the meaningful development of her people.

Naa Omaedru was noted for her charity work.

In 2004, she donated items worth US$12 million to the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled at the Ghana National Rehabilitation Centre in Accra.

Source: Ghana News