Ga Mantse Speaks: In Accra, We Say ‘Oobakɛ’ …calls for respect for Ga people

His Royal Majesty, the Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has served notice that in Accra and among the Ga people for that matter, the correct expression for politely welcoming someone arriving from a journey is ‘Oobakɛ’ rather than ‘Akwaaba’, which is an Akan phrase and never a Ga language.

“It is a pleasure to welcome you to Ghana Sir, and to Accra the heartbeat of the nation, we say bo, ‘Oobakɛ’. So instead of saying ‘Akwaaba’, we are saying ‘Oobakɛ’. Can you say that? ‘Oobakɛ’”, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II noted as part of his opening remarks when he gave a welcome address when the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Aman Khan, paid an official visit to him, the Ga Mantse and the Ga Traditional Council at his Palace at Kaneshie in Accra.

The clarification by the Ga Mantse has reignited concerns expressed by many of Ga and Dangbe descent who seek answers why other Ghanaian languages are being used in welcoming guests in a Ga and Dangbe territories where the indigenes have their own indigenous language and a word or phrase for welcoming guests.

Their concern has been about the apparently accepted complete and continuous omission of the language of the Ga and Dangbe people in welcoming persons arriving even within their indigenous territories. The concern forms part of the long held worry that the Ga and Dangbe languages are going extinct for several reasons and the quest to preserve and promote same.  The ‘Oobakɛ /Akwaaba’ debate is more of a trigger to a bigger conversation of a sensitive nature.

The controversy has sparked a heated public debate with some making unfortunate comments as though they were born with a foot in their mouths.

One of the reference points was why the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has a signage which uses the Akan expression ‘Akwaaba’ and the Ewe expression ‘Woezor’ as the only Ghanaian languages used to welcome guests even though the facility is located in the heart of Accra lands belonging to the Ga people, yet the welcoming signage has the Ga language completely omitted.

On the same matter of what Ghanaian language should be used to welcome a person who arrives in Accra, belonging to the Ga people, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo has said the concerns raised by the Ga people are legitimate and that Government will adopt a balanced approach to honour Ga-Dangme heritage.

The Regional Minister explained her points on her X page:

I wish to address the ongoing public discourse concerning the proposed substitution of “Akwaaba” with “Oobakɛ” at the Kotoka International Airport and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

The Ga people, as the custodians of the land on which our capital city stands, have every right to raise legitimate concerns about the preservation and promotion of their language and cultural identity. As Minister, I remain fully committed to ensuring that our cultural heritage, traditions and linguistic legacy are respected, protected and preserved for generations to come.

At the same time, it must be emphasized that Ghana is a nation built on unity in diversity. Our strength lies in the coexistence of various ethnic groups whose values and traditions enrich our national identity. Just as the concerns of the Ga people are important, so too would the voices of the Ashanti, the Ewe and all other ethnic groups be treated with equal seriousness, should they raise legitimate matters in the interest of national harmony.

I was married to an Ewe and my children proudly bear Ewe names. My own family reflects the diversity that makes Ghana unique and I stand firmly against any interpretation that seeks to pit one ethnic group against another.

As someone with close family ties to other ethnic communities, I am firmly against any form of tribalism or division. This government is here to work and serve all the people of Ghana without bias. Decisions concerning matters of culture and heritage must therefore be made with sensitivity, broad consultation and national interest at heart.

In this regard, I assure all stakeholders that government will engage widely, listen attentively and pursue a balanced approach that honors the Ga-Dangme heritage while safeguarding the unity and inclusiveness that define us as Ghanaians.

Let it be clear: the preservation of Ga culture is not in opposition to national cohesion. Rather, it is an integral part of our collective identity. Together, we shall continue to uphold our cultural heritage while promoting unity, peace and development across our beloved nation

…Nii Ga calls for respect

In a related matter, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II has warned that a deliberate and continuous disrespect for Ga customs and royalty should be brought to an end immediately.

“We would not banish any person from Ga lands. We love everyone. But we insist we should be accorded our due respect.  We are saying the requisite respect should be accorded our people and our royals”, Nii Ga noted at the grand durbar to climax the 2025 Homowo festivities at Kpone on Saturday August 30, 2025.

The Ga Mantse continued: “We are not competing with anyone over anything.  It is our hospitality nature that has enabled the country’s capital to remain in Greater Accra. We have a deep love for people but we would not entertain disrespect and disdain. We ask that reverence should be accorded us and may it never happen that we would be disrespected for hosting the capital.”