I Never Imagined I Would Be Ga Mantse After Living In Kumasi For Over 25 Years
Ga Mantse Nii Tackie Teiku Tsuru II
Nii Teiku Tsuru II, the ruler of the Ga people, has recently opened up about his unexpected journey to becoming Ga Mantse. In a heartfelt conversation with Lexis Bill on Joy FM’s Personality Profile, he shared how his path to traditional leadership was a journey he had never envisioned, particularly after spending over 25 years in Kumasi, far from his native Accra.
Born in Accra, Nii Teiku Tsuru II’s early life took a unique turn when his mother, following prophetic counsel, returned to Ghana for his birth after losing two previous pregnancies. “On the third issue, which was me, she had to fly back to Ghana, and she delivered me here. She then returned with me to Cambridge six months later,” he recounted. His father was then a PhD student at Cambridge, necessitating a move to the United Kingdom soon after his birth.
The family later settled in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, when his father accepted a position at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architecture. Over time, his father ascended to become the Head of Department and the Dean of Architecture. For Nii Teiku Tsuru II, Kumasi became home for over two decades, where his connection to Accra remained minimal. “The only time I got to come to Accra was when I was traveling out of the country. And even when I returned, that same day, I’d go by domestic flight or STC bus back to Kumasi,” he explained. “There was nothing that held me to Accra.”
Despite the distance, his parents ensured that he and his siblings stayed connected to their roots by learning the Ga language and customs. This foundational cultural education, he acknowledged, was crucial to his identity and future role. “This was very important to my dispensation,” he noted.
Nii Teiku Tsuru II’s perspective on Accra began to shift during his national service at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). This role necessitated visits to various suburbs of Accra, including Bukom, Osu, La, Teshie, and Nungua. “It was through this service that I visited most of the suburbs in Accra… So it was this job that opened up Accra to me,” he recalled. This period marked the beginning of his deeper engagement with the city and its people.
Despite his profound roots in Kumasi, where he also runs a sanitation business, destiny had other plans for Nii Teiku Tsuru II. Embracing his heritage and the mantle of leadership, he now serves as the Ga Mantse, committed to the welfare and upliftment of his people. One of his significant initiatives includes the Ga Mantse Foundation, which supports young girls and needy but brilliant students in Ga communities.
Reflecting on his journey, Nii Teiku Tsuru II humbly remarked, “Being Ga Mantse was far from my line of thought. Even if I wanted to be a leader, I never thought that I would be blessed and honored to serve my people in this capacity.”
Nii Teiku Tsuru II’s story is a testament to the unpredictable nature of life’s journey and the profound ways in which one’s roots and heritage can shape their destiny. His commitment to his role as Ga Mantse demonstrates his dedication to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Ga people while working towards their development and prosperity.