Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Oct 20, GNA – The
final journey of the late Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, President, Ngleshie
Alata Traditional Council of the Ga State and Jamestown Mantse, was marked over
the weekend with a rich display of Ga tradition and culture.
Held at Mantse Agbonaa
in Jamestown, Accra it was witnessed by thousands of mourners from all walks of
life, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the First Lady Mrs
Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
Several paramount and
divisional chiefs from the Ga State all clad in red and black royal funeral
clothes converged at the Jamestown Manste’s Palace grounds to celebrate the
life of Oblempong Ababio.
The mourners were led
by Nii Ngleshie Addy V, the Acting President of the Ngleshie Alata Traditional
Area, who sat in state to welcome the teeming number of mourners who thronged
the Jamestown Palace grounds to pay their final respects to the departed King.
Other paramount
chiefs, who graced the funeral, include Nii Adjei Krakue II, Tema Mantse; King
Odaifio Welentsi III, Nungua Mantse and Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, Osu Mantse.
Mr Mohammed Adjei
Sowah, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra; Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri
Blankson, a Member of the Council of State, and ministers of state were in
attendance.
Also in attendance
were leading figures from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the
opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Asafoatsemei
(warlords) were also at the Palace grounds amidst the booming sound of musketry
and the chanting of war songs.
Asafoatsemei from the
various families and clans waved their flags and fired musketry as they ran
round the casket several times.
Traditional drummers
and dancers were also at hand to constantly perform.
Oblempong Nii Kojo
Ababio V passed on December 22, 2017, after ruling for 39 years as President of
Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council in the Ga State and as Jamestown Mantse.
Oblempong Nii Kojo
Ababio V, who was known in private life as Mr Ezekiel Quarmina Allotey Cofie
and a brand name as Dentist Cofie of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, was born on
June 12, 1920 at Jamestown, British Accra.
He was the son of Mr
William Cofie of Aflangai Shia, Naa Korle We and Madam Delphina Owoo from Naa
Sally We Krotia Division, Adjumaku of the Royal Stool of Ngleshie Alata (James
Town) Accra.
Oblempong Ababio was
the first dentist in The Gold Coast/Ghana.
GNA