Chiefs advised to refrain from endorsing politicians

Kumasi, Sept. 11, GNA - Professor Kwesi Jonah, Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, has urged chiefs to maintain their dignity and refrain from publicly endorsing politicians.

He said chiefs should serve as the guardians of multi-party democracy in the country and advised politicians to desist from acts that could bring violence in the country.

Addressing members of the National House of Chiefs (NHC) at a workshop in Kumasi on traditional authorities and elections in Ghana on Wednesday, Prof. Jonah urged chiefs to advise people especially political elites on the need to preserve Ghana's fledging democracy.

The workshop, which was organised by the NHC in collaboration with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, was under the theme, "the role of chiefs in the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections". Professor Jonah said Ghanaians could not afford to be complacent and take the upcoming elections for granted.

He said some of the hitherto peaceful African countries had witnessed political disturbances as a result of one elections and that Ghana could not be complacent.

He said it was important for chiefs to make their influence felt at the community levels by engaging political actors in dialogue on the need for peace.

Prof. Jonah said ethnicity had deeply permeated the voting patterns of the country and described the situation as unfortunate. He said Ghanaians wanted politicians to address issues such as education, health, employment, agriculture, gender and children. Mr Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka, Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) in-charge of operations, said the Commission was soliciting the assistance of chiefs to help clean the voters' register. Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, President of the National House of Chiefs, reminded chiefs of the constitutional provision, which debarred them from participating in active party politics and appealed to them to be neutral in their dealings with political parties.