Minister denies blocking Chiefs’ salaries

Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Seidu Danaa has denied claims by some members of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs (GARHC) that he had blocked the payment of their monthly allowances.

This follows an earlier publication in the DAILY GUIDE dated October 28, 2016, which exposed the grumblings of some members of GARHC regarding the non-payment of their allowances and the transfer of their Registrar, Henry Anthony Attipoe to the Volta Region.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Accra, Dr. Danaa disclosed that an amount of GH¢ 74, 178 had been transferred into the account of the GARHC but the chiefs have refused to allow the newly posted Registrar, Emmanuel Addoquaye to append his signature for the funds to be disbursed.

He noted that it was dangerous for the chieftaincy administration to reject the posting of Mr. Addoquaye because he went through the formal procedure and had met the requirements of a registrar, as demanded by civil service regulations.

According to him, it was unfortunate that the chiefs have decided not to work with the new registrar, stating that Mr. Addoquaye is a competent registrar.

Responding to claims that his (minister’s) assumption that Mr Attipoe was using his office as a platform for self-projection; Dr. Danaa stated that the claims were false and that he harboured no such assumptions.

He added that wherever Mr. Attipoe was transferred to, he can project himself, and so allegations of suppressing Mr. Attipoe because he is viewed as using his office to project himself for whatever reason, were unfounded.

Dr. Danaa indicated that his ministry followed formal procedures in the transfer of Henry Attipoe and in the subsequent appointment of Emmanuel Addoquaye.

He therefore advised the chiefs to also follow due process by stating the reason why they cannot work with Emmanuel Addoquaye and remarked that all civil servants can be transferred despite the unwillingness of those they work with.