The Supreme Court of Ghana has officially put to rest a long-standing chieftaincy dispute by ruling in favor of King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, affirming him as the legitimate Ga Mantse and quashing previous court rulings that sought to restore Nii Tackie Adama Latse II to the National Register of Chiefs.

⚖️ What Happened?
 In a unanimous decision delivered on July 23, 2025, the apex court found that King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II’s constitutional right to a fair hearing had been violated. While lower courts had previously ruled in favor of Nii Latse II, the Supreme Court held that those judgments were flawed because King Tsuru II was not included in the hearings, even though the outcome directly affected him. 

 📜 The Dispute
 The conflict began after the name of Nii Tackie Adama Latse II was removed from the National Register of Chiefs in 2021. He challenged this decision in court and won at the Kumasi High Court, which ordered that his name be reinstated. The Court of Appeal later upheld this decision, directing the National House of Chiefs to restore Nii Latse II’s name within 14 days. However, King Tsuru II, who had already been gazetted and recognized by the National House of Chiefs, was not invited to participate in those court cases—even though the ruling directly challenged his status as Ga Mantse. 

 🔍 Supreme Court's Ruling 
 The Supreme Court found that: Natural justice was breached because King Tsuru II was denied a hearing. His statutory rights under the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) were already vested. The lower court judgments were issued without legal justification and were therefore invalid. As a result, the Supreme Court granted a certiorari application filed by King Tsuru II’s legal team, effectively cancelling the decisions by the lower courts. 


 ✅ What This Means 
 The ruling means that King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II remains the recognized Ga Mantse, and any attempt to remove or challenge his position must follow proper legal and customary procedures. The decision is seen as a major reaffirmation of the importance of due process and fair hearing in all legal matters, especially in chieftaincy issues. 

 🗣 Final Word 
 This case is a powerful reminder that no matter the situation, justice must be done through proper procedures. The Supreme Court’s ruling doesn’t just settle a chieftaincy dispute—it also upholds the fundamental principles of fairness and rule of law in Ghana’s democratic system.