Ga Dangmes Seek Better Representation

Nii Akai Nettey

The Ga Dangme Youth Association (GDYA) has expressed worry over the low political representation of Gas in Parliament and government positions, saying that the situation does not work in their favour.

According to Herbert Nii Akai Nettey, IMC Chairman for GDYA, the voices of the Ga Dangmes need to be well represented in places that matter in order to protect their interests and get the necessary support to advance a development agenda.

Speaking at the 2nd Youth Development Forum for GDYA in Accra on Saturday, Mr Nettey stated that Gas need to start participating in politics to make their voices heard.

He added that a high representation of Ga Dangmes in government would mean educating the youth about the responsibilities of public service so that they enter into political office to serve their communities and not to enrich themselves.

Mr Nettey disclosed that if steps are not taken to arrest the situation, the future of Ga Dangme would be in jeopardy.

Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joseph Nii Ayikoi Otoo, said though Greater Accra is a cosmopolitan area, it is a legitimate concern to have a fair representation of Gas in both Parliament and government positions.

“Unless you do a kind of an affirmative action where you promote the indigenes of the area, you have a problem because everybody has a right to contest and if the person lives in the area you cannot prevent him from taking part. While it is a concern that the indigenes are not visible in other places, I think we also need to help ourselves so that we can compete fairly and get to wherever we want to,” he said.

Mr Ayikoi Otoo pointed out that government needs to fulfill the constitutional provision that suggests that “we should have respect to regional balance when it comes to government appointments.”

Loss of Ga Dangme Lands

Mr Nettey attributed the loss of Ga Dangme lands to the Land Development (Protection of Purchasers) Act, 1960 (Act 2) and the short-sighted actions of some Ga Dangme chiefs and individuals who sell stool and family lands.

He, therefore, called for the repeal of the Land Development (Protection of Purchasers) Act, 1960 (Act 2) otherwise known as the ‘Lintel Law’, stating that the Act was discriminatory and detrimental to the interests of Ga Dangme stools and families.