The Ga Traditional Council has reacted to the on-going controversy surrounding the self-proclaimed Igbo King, ordering Eze Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, to desist from further parading himself as Eze Ndigbo (‘King’ of Igbos) in Ghana (Ga State).
Equally, the Council stated that all cultural festivals presided over by Eze Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu under the guise of importing Igbo culture in Ghana (Ga State) should cease.
It also halted Eze Ihenetu’s plans to build a village in Old Ningo, Ghana.
In a press statement on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, after an emergency meeting presided over by the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Council dissociated itself from all the activities of the Igbo King, clarifying that it has never recognised anyone, including Eze Ihenetu, as a king within the Ga State.
It emphasised that the induction of persons into the Ga Traditional Council followed strict procedures tied to the National Register of Chiefs, a process governed by the council’s statutes.
The Ga Traditional Council also directed Eze Ihenetu to cease and desist from presenting himself as a king and from conducting traditional activities, including cultural festivals celebrated under the guise of importing Igbo culture in Ghana within the Ga State.
The council also ordered Paramount and Divisional chiefs installed by the supposed Igbo King to desist from holding themselves out as such within the Ga State, threatening to take drastic action against Eze Ihenetu and others who would violate their directives with the intent of disrupting the peace within the State.
The council’s statement comes amid growing concerns and outrage from some Ghanaians over the presence of the supposed Igbo King in the country after rumours emerged that he had secured about 50 plots of land for an ambitious Igbo community project around Old Ningo.
In some viral videos, Eze Ihenetu shared his intention to establish Igbo schools, a market, a garden, a large palace, a 100-room guest house, and a 2,000-seater auditorium.
He also indicated that the streets in his planned village would be named after prominent Igbo personalities, including Nnamdi Azikiwe and his father, among others.
The controversy surrounding the supposed Igbo King’s plans garnered a response from the Ghana Communications Minister and Member of Parliament for the Ningo-Prampram constituency, Samuel Nartey George, who shared that no such property was being planned for his community.
The Ningo Traditional Council also released a statement, distancing itself from selling lands to Eze Ihenetu to begin his project.
The council also called on the authorities to invite the Igbo King to Ghana for questioning and interrogation regarding the said land acquisition.
Meanwhile, Eze Ihenetu had earlier revealed plans to establish the first-ever Igbo village in Ghana, a cultural landmark aimed at preserving and celebrating Igbo heritage.
Speaking about the initiative, Eze Ihenetu shared that the project is inspired by a similar cultural site in Virginia, USA, where an Igbo village displays archives and antiquities of the Ndi Igbo people.
He, however, he emphasized that what he is building in Ghana goes beyond that.
“If you look around the world, apart from Virginia, they have an Igbo village in Virginia.
“They created it by putting the antiquities of the Ndi Igbo there, you can come there and see archives.
“But I am creating an Igbo village which has never happened in the world among the Igbos,” he said.
He disclosed that he has already acquired 50 acres of land, equivalent to about 250 plots, along the Afalo road in the Old Ningo area of Ghana for the purpose.
“My reason for acquiring this land is to build an Igbo village in Ghana,” he added.
The village is expected to serve as a hub for cultural education, tourism, and community engagement, offering a space for both locals and visitors to learn about Igbo traditions, history, and contributions across Africa and the diaspora.
