Chiefs urged to source for funds for research activities on codification

Kumasi, Jan. 29, GNA - Wulugu Naba Pugansoa, Naa Professor John S. Nabila, President of the National House of Chiefs, has called on members of the House to vigorously source for funding for research activities on the codification of more lines of succession. He emphasized that this would go a long way to reduce chieftaincy disputes in the country and consequently reduce the work load of the judicial committees.

The President was addressing a general meeting of the House in Kumasi on Thursday. The meeting among others was to collate the comments of the House on the Draft Deed of Customary Freehold received from the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines and also to offer members the opportunity to set a bird-eye view agenda of the House for the next four years. The President said the House was yet to focus its attention on the constitutional mandate given by Article 270 of the 1992 Constitution to undertake evaluation of traditional customs and usages with a view to eliminating those customs and usages that were outmoded and socially harmful.

Naa Professor Nabila said "as matters stand is imperative for members of the National, Regional Houses and Traditional Councils to be well-versed with the new Chieftaincy Act 2008, and the Legislative instrument 1946, which spells out in detail membership of the Regional House of Chiefs".

He said there was also the need for the House to embark on the drawing of a strategic plan to elaborate the vision for effective and cooperative governance that would consolidate democracy and ancestral heritage.

The President announced that the House's Office complex which was started in July 2006 at Asenua near Kumasi has not been completed due to budgetary constraints and said appropriate steps would be taken for its completion.

Four members of the House were sworn in by the President and His Lordship Justice Frank Amoah, a Supervising High Court Judge in Kumasi. They were, Nana Mprah Bensemuna III, Krachiwura in the Volta Region, Osabarima Kwaw Entsie II, Oguahene in the Central Region, Okogyeasuo Kwaku Gyampaah III, Sefwi-Chiraanohene in the Western Region and Nii Adote Obuo II, Sempeh Mantse in the Greater Accra Region.