By Togbega Gabusu VI, Traditional
Head, Gbi Traditional Area
 |
| Togbega Gabusu VI: Traditional Head, Gbi Traditional Area (Hohoe & ten other towns) |
In response to publications by the
Daily Mail (UK), Independent (UK), New York Post, the German press &
other media organizations.
The attention of the chiefs and queens
of the Gbi Traditional Area in the Volta Region of Ghana has been drawn to a
publication by the Daily Mail, UK, stating that we have a king who governs us
via Skype from Germany. I, Gabusu VI, the traditional head of Gbi Traditional
Area, am announcing to the world and in particular, the media organizations
behind these careless and dangerous publications, that the claims are
not true.
Gbis have no monarch who rules them from
any foreign country. T he idea itself is not possible in a modern
world, and educated men and women of your caliber should know better, if you
were to do your work according to the principles of your profession, which
calls for thorough investigation of your subjects.
The Name Gbi: I will pause to point out some important
distinctions with regard to the name “Gbi” before I proceed to discuss the
subject of concern. The Gbi community consists of two sister groups,
traditionally known as Gbi Dzigbe and Gbi Anyigbe: Uphill Gbi and Downhill Gbi
respectively. Gbi Dzigbe is loosely referred to as Hohoe, the name of its
capital town. Gbi Anyigbe goes by the name Peki. It is also worth noting that
Hohoe is often used in reference to the Hohoe Municipal Area which consists of
nearly 20 independent communities, including Gbi Dzigbe. Officially, Gbi Dzigbe
is known as Gbi Traditional area, and Peki is known as Peki Traditional Area.
The title for the highest traditional authority in Gbi Traditional Area is
“Gabusu” – officially referred to as Togbega Gabusu. The title for the highest
traditional authority in Peki Traditional Area is “Kwadzo Dei,” officially
referred to as Togbe Kwadzo Dei or Deiga Kwadzo Dei. The current traditional
head of Gbi Dzigbe is Togbega Gabusu VI.
Clarifications regarding Cephas
Bansah’s position in the Gbi Traditional Area
Cephas Kosi Bansah, a native of Gbi, was
installed as a development chief of Hohoe, the capital town of Gbi Traditional
Area, in 1987, under the title, Ngoryifia Cephas Kosi Bansah, which literally
means “Development Chief Cephas Kosi Bansah.” This remains his status in his
hometown of Hohoe.
To qualify for the highest traditional
position in Gbi Traditional Area, one must hail paternally from one of three
gates: Kadreke, Adom and Asamani.
Cephas Bansah does not hail paternally from any of these gates.
Incorrect Claims & The Facts
CLAIM:
The UK Daily Mail refers to Gbi as a
kingdom of 300,000 people. The Daily Mail writes: Bansah’s “kingdom, Gbi in
Eastern Ghana on the border of Togo, consists of 300,000 Ewe people.” A year
earlier, the Independent had stated 200,000 as the population for the same
area.
FACT:
There are no Ewe kingdoms in Ghana. The
Ewe tribes in Ghana abolished Kingdoms about four hundred years ago with
reasons directly connected to their experience under King Agokoli of Togo,
whose kingdom they fled from. Consequently, every Ewe traditional area has one
traditional head: the “fiaga,” also referred to as the paramount chief – the
highest traditional authority. Gabusu VI is the current occupant of the highest
traditional seat in Gbi Traditional area.
The Population of Gbi Traditional
Area is under 60,000, according
to the most recent census; not 300,000 as stated by the UK Daily Mail. Gbi
Traditional Area is part of Hohoe Municipal Area, which consists of about 20
other independent communities. The population of the entire municipality,
according to the most recent census, is under 200,000. It is therefore not
possible for one area within this municipality to have a population of 300,000.
CLAIM:
Both the UK Daily Mail and the
Independent newspapers state that Bansah inherited his position following the
death of his grandfather “the reigning king,” when his father and oldest
brother were deemed unfit to occupy the stool because they were left-handed.
The Daily Mail goes on to emphasize: “This meant that Céphas was his
grandfather's successor, and the new king.”
FACT:
Bansah did not inherit his position
as Ngoryifia because his grandfather never was a King of the
Gbi Traditional Area; neither did his grandfather ever reign in any capacity as
a traditional ruler. The Ngoryifia position is an honorary one
granted Bansah and others in the same standing as him.
The Title Ngoryifia, equivalent to Nkosuohene/Nkosuohemaa among
Akans, literally means development chief/queen. Development chiefs/queens are
not traditional rulers, so they are installed, not enstooled. The position is
an honorary one bestowed on people thought of as respectable and believed to be
capable of helping bring development to an area – be them citizens or non
citizens, irrespective of race or religion – and can be revoked.
To Inherit A Gbi Traditional Stool: One has to be nominated, accepted, smeared with
white clay from a black stool, kept in confinement for a number of days and finally
enstooled, in accordance with Gbi customs. Development chiefs and queens do not
go through these rites and their status is not statutory as contained in
Ghana’s Chieftaincy Act 759.
The customs described above equally
apply to males and females.
CLAIM:
The Independent Newspaper states: “King
Bansah” often stays up late into the night to rule on tribal disputes.
FACT:
There are no tribal disputes in Hohoe
because Gbi is a single tribe and Hohoe is a Gbi divisional town.
NOTE: As you may have noticed, I have focused my response
on the media and called out those directly involved in misinforming the world
on this subject. This is because anyone can tell a journalist anything, but it
is the responsibility of the reporter to check thoroughly, get informed on the
subject through multiple sources and write a report that aims at reflecting the
facts accurately – bearing in mind always that his or her responsibility is to
inform and educate the public. As of the time of this release, no journalist or
media organization behind these careless publications has contacted anyone or
authority in the Gbi Traditional Area to investigate the information they’ve
been spreading. They must desist from this irresponsible behavior in their
efforts to sell stories and do the right thing.
Finally, I wish to make it clear that
everything I have stated in this release and every concern I have expressed, I
have done as Gabusu VI on behalf of the Gbi Traditional Area only. I do not
speak for other Ewe groups mentioned in the said publications. The Gbi
Traditional Area is not going back to practice what our ancestors abolished
centuries ago. The responsibility lies on individual groups to set the records
concerning their towns straight.
Thank you for your attention
Togbega Gabusu VI
Traditional Head / Paramount Chief
Gbi Traditional Area
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