Chiefs must be instruments of socio-political cohesion

President John Kufuor on Monday urged chiefs to serve as instruments for socio-political cohesion to facilitate national development.

"Modern technological development and globalisation demand transformation of the traditional institution of chieftaincy from -painted relics exhibited to foreign tourists - to fit into the expectations of the 21st Century," he said.

President Kufuor said this at the opening of a five-day international conference on "Chieftaincy in Africa: Culture, Governance and Development Project" in Accra.

President Kufuor whose speech was read on his behalf by Joseph Henry Mensah, Senior Minister, tasked chiefs to adopt measures to meet the challenges brought about by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, information and digital revolution and general education of the citizenry.

The Conference, which would discuss chieftaincy, governance and development, is being attended by policy makers, representatives from royal houses all over Africa, academics, chiefs and queenmothers, and observers from Europe and America.

It also aims at a systematic academic study of the institution of chieftaincy and its role in the general system of governance in the midst of rapid modernisation and globalisation.

President Kufuor urged chiefs to embrace the modern technological trend through self-transformation of norms and traditions that inhibit development and portray the institution as custodian of outmoded culture.

He said culture must be dynamic to modernity stressing, "chiefs must focus on attracting investors, improving education, communal participation in development projects and transparent administration."

The President also noted that the issue of governance and development are a critical problem that has created wars, instability and underdevelopment in Africa. This, he said, chiefs must help to eradicate, through their traditional authority of mediation, counselling and fostering of unity.

President Kufuor assured Ghanaian chiefs of government's commitment to empower, equip and improve the institution with modern tools for development and growth. President Kufuor commended chiefs who have adopted measures such as establishment of educational funds to help needy but brilliant children, embarked on crusades against environmental degradation, especially the depletion of national forest by chainsaw operators.

He also commended those who are championing economic investment drives into their communities.

Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II, Gyaasehene of Akuapem Traditional Area, who chaired the opening ceremony acknowledged the significant role the institution had played with resilience despite the numerous political changes across the continent.

He, however, expressed concern about lack of significant and well-defined role for chiefs to make meaningful contributions to economic development. Citing the local government structure where, he noted, the chiefs were expected to play significant role in its administration and development, Oyeeman Ampem said, "we find that chiefs have been marginalised to the extent that their contribution is very small."

He said chiefs who are members of the district assemblies are there by virtue of the exercise of the prerogative by the President. Oyeeman Ampem, who is also the chief of Amanokrom of the Gyaase Division of Akuapem called for bold initiatives to recognise the potential that chieftaincy can make towards national development with assigned roles within the Constitution and laws of the state.