Chieftaincy vital for national governance - Veep

Kpembe (N/R), Jan 7, GNA - The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Saturday, said that the government recognised chieftaincy as a vital part of the national good governance system.

In a speech read on his behalf, at the enskinment ceremony of Alhaji Mohammed N. M. D. Jawula, Chief Director of the Ministry of Harbours and Railways, as the Lepowura of Kpembe Traditional Area, Alhaji Mahama noted that the government see good governance as a major priority area of its medium term programme to transform the country. The government therefore expected the traditional rulers to do well to support the efforts at making democracy and the rule of law work in the country.

With his new title, the 55-year-old administrator, who succeeded the Songbonwura, Braimah Sulemana, would now serve as an advisor to the Kpembewura and the Kpembe Traditional Council, as well as laise between the chiefs and the people of Salaga and the Kpembewura on land and other traditional matters.

Alhaji Mahama commended the Yagbonwura, Baba Dosie and other chiefs in the Gonjaland for maintaining peace in the area. He urged the Leponwura to use his rich experience in public administration to serve as a link between the government and chiefs in his area in particular and Ghana as a whole. "You should be wise at all times and give good counselling to both your superior chief and the government, while taking up the additional responsibility of helping to educate the people on government policies and programmes", he said.

"Your previous effort at maintaining the peace in the Northern Region should be manifested again, this time, in your capacity as a traditional ruler to help bring peace to the trouble region and indeed to the chieftaincy succession process throughout the country", he added. Alhaji Mahama urged the Lepowura to use his international exposure to open up many channels for various form of development intervention for the rapid transformation of the Gonjaland.

The Kpembewura Alhaji Ibrahim Haruna Kibasibi I, said the enskinment of Alhaji Jawula, a recognition of his contribution towards the development of the traditional area.

He assured the government of the co-operation of his people and called on Ghanaians to give the government the needed support to carry out its development policies and programmes to move the country forward. Professor Ameyaw Ekumfi, Minister for Harbours and Railways was confident that the Lepowura would carry out his duties diligently to meet the aspiration of his people. 07, Jan 06