Nana Amba Eyiaba, Krontihemaa of the Oguaa Traditional Area, has advocated for a National House of Queenmothers to serve as a forum for discussing national issues.
She said the absence of such a house had made it difficult for the collective voice of queenmothers to be heard on political issues affecting the nation. “For example, when the serial killings occurred, our voice could not be heard collectively because we did not have a statutory establishment like a house or a forum”, she said.
Nana Eyiaba was speaking in an interview with The Ghanaian Times at the just ended international conference on chieftaincy held in Accra last week. “If we are not going to be allowed to be part of the Regional and National House of Chiefs, then a house should be created for us where we can meet, discuss issues and have a national hearing,” she said.
The queenmother also called on the government to provide financial support to the chieftaincy institution in the form of allowances to the chiefs and the traditional councils. She explained that not all traditional areas benefited from royalties as not all of them had natural resources. “Financial and logistical support will therefore help those who do not have such resources to run their traditional councils effectively,” she stressed.
Nana Ama Serwaa, Krontihemaa of Duayaw Nkwanta, on her part, urged the government to consult traditional authorities on the appointment of the one-third of the members of the District Assemblies.
“As custodians of culture, the people trust us more than the central government. We should therefore be made part of the decision making at least at the district level,” she explained.
She also called on the government to appoint chiefs as chairman of the Council of State stressing, “we should be given our proper places as custodians of culture.”
The Wulogu Naba, Prof John S. Nabila, urged the government to inform chiefs about development projects since such projects are to benefit the people over whom they (chiefs) have jurisdiction. He called for the maintenance of the constitutional provision baring chiefs from partisan politics.
