A protracted leadership dispute within the prominent Nii Ardey Nkpa family of Plenor, Kokrobite, Langma, and Tuba has reached a critical juncture following a statutory declaration by Mrs. Victoria Ammah, also known as Nee Tagoe.
In her declaration, Mrs. Ammah asserts her rightful claim as the head of the family, citing her position as the oldest surviving female of the Kwaku Tagoe lineage within the Nii Ardey Nkpa family.
The Nii Ardey Nkpa family, which traces its lineage to Nii Ayinsah Sasraku I and his son, Nii Ardey Nkpa I, has been embroiled in leadership disputes for years.
These conflicts have been fueled by multiple claims to authority, destoolments, legal battles, and controversies over the administration of family lands and finances.
A Tumultuous History
The leadership turmoil began after the death of Nii Ayinsah Sasraku II in 2001.
His successor, Nii Ardey Nkpa VI, assumed multiple roles, including Dzasetse (head of family) and Mantse (chief), but his passing in 2003 left a vacuum.
The family installed Nii Ayinsah Sasraku III in 2004 to fill these roles temporarily.
However, the enstoolment of Frederick Victor Nii Tackie Tackie as Mantse by certain elders in the same year complicated matters.
The Ga Traditional Council later nullified Tackie’s initial enstoolment, instructing the family to reinstall him properly. On December 23, 2008, he was enstooled as Nii Ardey Nkpa VII.
Yet his tenure was fraught with controversies, including allegations of financial misconduct and unauthorized land dealings.
In September 2015, the family officially destooled Nii Ardey Nkpa VII after he failed to respond adequately to charges brought against him.
The Rise of Mrs. Victoria Ammah
Against this backdrop of disputes, Mrs. Victoria Ammah has emerged as a new figure in the leadership debate.
In her statutory declaration, she highlights her qualifications, including her position as the oldest surviving female of the Kwaku Tagoe lineage and her role as a signatory to family matters since 2010.
According to Mrs. Ammah, recent court decisions have effectively nullified the leadership claims of Nii Ayinsah Sasraku III and Nii Ardey Nkpa VII, leaving a leadership vacuum.
She contends that her unique position as the oldest female family member grants her the authority to assume the role of family head. She has already informed the eight lineage heads of her intentions and has faced no objections thus far.
“I have taken this step not out of ambition but out of necessity,” Mrs. Ammah stated in her declaration.
“The family needs stable and legitimate leadership to move forward, and as the oldest surviving female of my lineage, I believe it is my duty to assume this responsibility.”
Legal and Traditional Implications
The family’s leadership disputes have not been limited to internal deliberations. Court battles over the capacity to represent the family have further complicated matters.
A legal dispute involving compensation for family lands acquired by the government under Executive Instruments EI 61 and EI 20 saw Frederick Victor Nii Tackie Tackie substituted as a representative of the family without broader family consultation.
Although the Court of Appeal upheld Tackie’s capacity to represent the family, Mrs. Ammah argues that his destoolment renders him ineligible to hold any official capacity within the family.
Similarly, she questions the legitimacy of Reverend Michael Nii Tackie Tagoe, who allegedly began parading himself as head of the family without proper installation.
The Path Forward
As the family awaits the resolution of legal cases and internal disputes, Mrs. Ammah’s declaration marks a pivotal moment in the family’s history.
Her claim, grounded in both tradition and legal precedent, may offer a pathway to stability if accepted by all factions within the family.
However, the situation remains fragile.
With deep-seated divisions and competing interests at play, the future of the Nii Ardey Nkpa family’s leadership remains uncertain.
