The Eastern Regional House of Chiefs has issued stern warning to politicians to desist from meddling in chieftaincy matters.
The House of Chiefs noted that politicians have gradually infiltrated the chieftaincy institution to become pseudo stakeholders.
“Previously when we talk about stakeholders in chieftaincy, everyone can imagine who they are, the queenmother, the kingmakers, and the royals. Today unfortunately when we talk about stakeholders, it includes politicians which must cease. I urge politicians to stay off. The time tested and sustained institution (chieftaincy) must be enhanced but not be disrespected by such elites” The House of Chiefs said in a speech read by its President Nene Sakite II during end of year meeting held at Kyebi.
Nene Sakite II said bemoaned funding challenges facing the House of Chiefs despite its crucial role in the governance architecture of Ghana.
“we have been tasked with the performance of both customary and statutory functions, which we are performing to the best of our abilities even in the face of logistic and funding constraints”.
” In the bid to attain excellence, we call on central government to release funding for our activities timely Nananom have always sacrificed to sustain the institution, all in the interest of peace and development of the nation”
Nene Sakite II said ” I dare say that but for chiefs, the courts of Ghana would have been overwhelmed with cases. Our arbitration settles matters in the communities than the traditional courts do.We are inclined to sometimes suspect that, the institution of chieftaincy is being relegated to the background”.
He called in government to review and increase the travel and transport allowances fixed decades ago for chiefs.
“Our travel and transport allowances fixed decades ago have not seen any upwards review since consultation on matters of national interest with government very low and we shall look forward to a better involvement in nation building. Believe it or not, the traditional council grant is a mere GHC 100.00 a month or GHC 300.00 quarterly”.
He said the lack of funding for the activities of chieftaincy institutions affects its ability to deal with chieftaincy related insecurity.
“In his last address to parliament recently H. E. Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo our immediate past president of the Republic indicated that, chieftaincy related matters were contributing a higher percentages of security threats of the country. The truth about it all is that we as an institution are not founded adequately to quash any security threat that shows up in our communities.
The observations of the former President is very much true, and serve as a wakeup call on all stakeholders to sit up and not to do things that could marr security and peace which are the basic sine-quanon of development”.
The Eastern Regional House of Chief appealed to GNPC to speed up renovation of the Regional House of Chiefs facility in Koforidua.
Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) has agreed to undertake the renovation of our secretariat. We were all happy that work would progress steadily so that we can have a better working space. Nananom, that had not been the case as work had stalled as the contractors certificates remain unpaid, I did follow up on the matter few times and positive assurances were given but nothing is happening, I believe further follow ups will not be out of place. A new board is being set up and I will continue to pursue them when they get settled”.
Present at the meeting was the new Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
