The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, made a historic journey last Saturday to the ancestral burial grounds of Ga traditional rulers, the King Tackie Tawiah Royal Mausoleum at Tesano, Accra.

The sacred ritual, known as 'Maamε', literally refers to "a journey to the ancestral burial grounds", a royal tradition reserved for the King.

It is performed exactly one week after the celebration of the Ga Homowo festival.

This year's visit, secured by a sizeable police and military presence along with the Asafoatsemei and Asafoanyemei of the Ga State, formed part of activities marking the climax of the 2025 Ga Homowo, held on: "Our Heritage Won for Us Through the Blood and Toil of Our Fathers Will Never Be in Vain".

Moving solemnly from tombstone to tombstone, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru, the Abiasuma of the Ga State, performed traditional rites by sprinkling kpokpoi, the sacred festive food, pouring libation with schnapps and water, and offering intercessory prayers on behalf of the various Ga clans and families.

At the royal mausoleum, he first stopped at the tombstone of the first King of the Ga State, Nii Tackie Tawiah I, who was buried underground.

The Ga Mantse spent several minutes in that sacred chamber, where cameras were not permitted, performing the necessary rites before continuing his journey to honour other departed royals.

In some instances, family members of the deceased royals stood by their ancestors’ tombs with schnapps and water.

The King offered intercessory prayers, asking for blessings of wealth, good health, strength, victory and success for the people in their endeavours.

The revered King and his entourage then visited Adabraka, one of the sites of an old royal cemetery where some of the past Ga kings had been buried before the land was sold to the government for factories, to perform similar rites.

He later made a stop at the statue of the late King Tackie Tawiah at the Makola Market, where he performed final rituals to conclude the over eight-hour ceremony.

The day was filled with traditional drumming, dancing, war song chants, musket firing and jubilant celebrations.

The highlight of the day was a majestic parade on foot, led by the King, from the Accra Brewery burial site through Agbogbloshie to Makola Market, and back to the Paramount Stool House in James Town.

Thousands of people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the revered monarch and the procession to share in the joyous and historic occasion.

Significance

The event holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Ga people, offering the Ga Mantse the opportunity to pay homage to the departed royals.

The palace storyteller, Nii Kwardey Ntreh, later told the Daily Graphic that the custom was performed in remembrance of past kings and royals.

He said although those royals had passed on, their spirits were believed to be still living among the society, making it essential to visit, feed and pray, especially during the Homowo festivities.

“It is a remembrance of the royals, which is why we come here one week after the Homowo celebration,” he said.

“We sprinkle Kpokpoi, drinks and water. We feed them with whatever we eat during the festival because we believe their spirits are still around us.”

He further emphasised the symbolism of the King’s ritual journey.

“The Ga Mantse began the rites at the tombstone of Nii Tackie Tawiah I and returned there after visiting all the others. This is significant because Nii Tackie Tawiah was the first King of the Ga State.

Being the first, it is only right to begin with him and return to pay final homage before leaving, as a mark of respect,” he said.

Preparation

By 8 a.m. last Saturday, a vibrant gathering had assembled at the Paramount Stool House to support the King in fulfilling his royal duties.

Chiefs and queenmothers from the seven principal Ga clans — Gbese, Asere, Abola, Otublohum, Sempe, Ngleshie and Akunmaajen — alongside those from satellite villages, family heads, Asafoatsemei, palace staff and loyal subjects were all present.

Clad in traditional red and accompanied by drumming and singing, the crowd eagerly awaited the arrival of the Ga Mantse at the palace, where essential cleansing rites were to be performed before the journey to the ancestral burial grounds.

As tradition dictates, the Shipi of the Ga State lit the sacred fire at the palace entrance; the King then walked through the thick smoke as a form of spiritual cleansing ahead of the visit to the cemeteries.

A similar ritual was performed at the cemetery gates, where another fire was lit to cleanse the King and his entourage before they could enter and perform the sacred rites.

At the end, a traditional priestess placed a large wooden basin, known as "sese", containing water and sacred leaves for cleansing and blessings at the entrance of the palace.

The people sprinkled the content on themselves as a final ritual.

The mixture is believed to absorb misfortunes, promote spiritual renewal and protection upon the community, especially after visiting the cemetery.

Some of the notable attendees were Abola Mantse, Nii Ahene Nunoo II; Abola Manye, Naa Okaitsoe III; Sowutuom Mantse, Nortse Nii Nortey Owuo IV; Lante Djan We Manye, Naa Lamiley Ajaaku Dromo II; Teiko Tsuru We Manye, Naa Amerley Tesaa I; Bortianor Sakumo, Naa Korkor Somo II; Ga Wolεiatsε, Nii Ablotse Kwanda, and Nii Armah Tagoe II.

Solidarity Messages

"My grandfather was the late Nii Tackie Tawiah II, and I am currently sitting on the tomb of my late mother, Jessica Armatsoe Tackie.

I am here because of them," Naa Amerley Tesaa said. 

"I pray that as I have come to visit them, they will bless me beyond measure."

Naa Lamiley Ajaaku Dromo expressed the hope for collective blessings.

“I also hope that our prayers for the entire Ga State will receive favourable answers after today’s rituals.

My message to our people is that we must learn to tolerate one another and embrace love and unity, for that is the only path to progress.

We must put an end to quarrels and stand together—only then can we succeed as a people.”