Ghana has lost one of its most distinguished traditional leaders. King Dr. Nii Ayi-Bonte II (Thomas Okai), Gbese Maŋtsɛ and Adonten of the Ga State, has joined the ancestors after a period of ill health.
Your time with the ancestors has now become an eternal stay. Your legacy, leadership, and dedicated service to the GaDangme people will be remembered for generations. Rest in perfect peace, King.
The news of his passing has plunged Gbese, Ga Mashie, and the wider Ga State into mourning. Tributes have poured in from traditional leaders, community members, and the Accra Hearts of Oak fraternity, reflecting the profound impact he made on the lives of many.
Born to the late Emmanuel Ayitey Okai of Gbese and Charlotte Kwaamah Ankrah of Otublohum Dadebanaa in Accra, Nii Ayi-Bonte II was an accomplished accountant and entrepreneur before ascending the Gbese Stool. He established Lifetime Pharmacy Limited and Savemart Company Limited in 1995, creating employment opportunities and contributing significantly to Ghana’s private sector.
On 27 April 2007, he was nominated, selected, and installed as Nii Ayi-Bonte II, Gbese Mantse and Adonten of the Ga State. Throughout his reign, he championed peace, reconciliation, and development within Gbese and Ga Mashie. His administration initiated educational and social interventions, including scholarship programmes for vulnerable children and major infrastructure projects such as the redevelopment of the historic Gbese Mantse Palace.
His service extended beyond traditional leadership. He served on the Judicial Committees of the Ga Traditional Council and the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and was a Commissioner of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission.
A passionate sports administrator, Nii Ayi-Bonte II played an important role in the success of Accra Hearts of Oak, serving as a management and board member during some of the club’s most celebrated achievements, including its CAF Champions League victory in 2000 and CAF Super Cup triumph in 2001. He also contributed immensely to boxing, supporting and mentoring world champion Joseph Agbeko on his journey to international success.
Throughout his life, he received numerous honours, including an honorary doctorate in Leadership and Humanity in 2018, in recognition of his contributions to traditional leadership, community development, and sports.
His passing marks the end of a remarkable chapter in the history of Gbese and the Ga State. He will be remembered as a visionary leader, a builder of institutions, a promoter of peace, and a proud son of GaDangme whose legacy will endure for generations.
Yaa Wo Ojogban, Nii Ayi-Bonte II.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
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