Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, has called on the Ga-Dangme people to unite and protect their traditional lands and institutions from what he described as growing interference from politicians and outsiders.
Speaking at the launch of the RNAQ Ga-Dangme Youth Scholarship Fund in Accra, Shatta Wale said he was prepared to publicly defend the authority of the Ga Mantse and other Ga-Dangme traditional rulers against what he described as disrespect and attempts to undermine their authority.
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I am ready to defend the Ga Mantse everywhere because enough is enough of the disrespect from strangers,” he said.
The artiste said the Ga-Dangme community needed to take a stronger position on matters concerning its lands, arguing that political interests should not be allowed to determine the future of traditional communities.
We need to stand up and prevent politicians from taking over our lands in Ga-Dangme,” Shatta Wale said.
He made the remarks in the presence of Ga-Dangme traditional leaders, including the Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II, and the Nungua Mantse, Oboade Notse King Professor Odaifio Welentsi III, as well as other traditional authorities and guests attending the scholarship fund launch.
Shatta Wale said he was using the occasion to publicly pledge his support for efforts aimed at protecting Ga-Dangme interests.
I am bowing today in front of Nii Ga, Nii Nungua and all the other Ga-Dangme rulers that I am ready to start liberating the Ga-Dangme land and stop strangers from bullying us,” he said.
He also expressed concern about the demolition of properties and what he described as unnecessary investigations affecting people within Ga-Dangme communities.
“Politicians and strangers should stop demolishing our properties and the unnecessary investigations. This is our land; allow us to feel at home,” he said.
Call for unity
Shatta Wale’s intervention adds a strong youth and popular-culture voice to ongoing calls for greater unity among Ga-Dangme traditional authorities and communities.
The scholarship launch itself was centred on education and youth development, but the event also provided a platform for discussions about identity, traditional leadership, land, culture and the future of the Ga-Dangme people.
Shatta Wale urged the traditional authorities and the youth to work together to protect their heritage while creating opportunities for the next generation.
His comments come at a time when education and youth empowerment have become increasingly important areas of focus within the Ga-Dangme community. The RNAQ Foundation, in partnership with the Ga Mantse Foundation, launched the RNAQ Ga-Dangme Youth Scholarship Fund to support brilliant but needy students from the Ga-Dangme communities.
The fund is part of broader efforts by Ga-Dangme institutions and organisations to expand educational opportunities for young people.
Shatta Wale said the protection of Ga-Dangme interests should not be left to traditional leaders alone, urging young people to become more active in matters affecting their communities.
He said the community needed to develop a stronger sense of collective responsibility and defend its heritage while pursuing education and economic opportunities.
The artiste’s remarks were met with applause from participants at the event, which brought together traditional leaders, youth, development advocates and other stakeholders to support the educational advancement of Ga-Dangme youth.
