New Chieftaincy Act outlines guidelines for kingmakers

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - The new Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759), passed by Parliament has outlined procedures and guidelines for kingmakers on the installation, enskinment, destoolment and de-skinment of chiefs.

With regard to paramount chiefs, kingmakers are expected to give two weeks notice to the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs before the installation or enskinment.

For divisional chiefs, the kingmakers are to give advance notice to the Traditional and Regional Houses of Chiefs. The kingmakers are expected to give two weeks notice to the appropriate authorities if they want to de-stool or de-skin a chief. Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of State at the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, said this in a speech read for him at the outdooring of Naa Dede Odame I, Atukpai Manye, in Accra on Saturday. Naa Odame, 54, known in private life as Madam Abigail Ayorkor Addo-Quaye, is a Senior Editor and Head of Foreign Desk at Ghana News Agency (GNA)

Atukpai is a prominent quarter within the Gbese Division of Ga Traditional Area and the Atukpai Stool is the permanent Mankralo Stool within the Gbese Divisional Area. Mr Boafo said the Act stipulated that any aggrieved person should give at least one week notice to the appropriate authorities in the institution before filing an injunction against an installation or enskinment of a chief.

He said the Act guaranteed the power of a chief or queenmother to act as arbitrator in customary arbitration. A section of the Act indicates that a chief is not liable to a charge of contempt (in court proceedings) if he makes a statement in good faith in respect of or during legitimate customary proceedings or practices which are not in wilful violation of a specific order of a court.

Mr Boafo expressed concern about the myriads of chieftaincy disputes in Greater Accra Region, especially on the numerous suits against the Ga Mantse that were dissipating resources and energies of the top echelons of Ga Mashie Royal Houses. "It is very distressing to read and hear various rejoinders on the issue in the print and electronic media."

Mr Boafo said the rich culture and the enviable traditions of the Ga State were being degraded in the eyes of Ghanaians and foreigners. He said people in Ga Mashie needed only a royal from eligible ruling house to ascend the stool, others from other royal houses who might be eligible, should exercise patience and rally behind the incumbent so that peace and orderly co-existence would prevail in Ga Mashie again.

Mr Boafo urged Naa Odame to make significant contribution to her community, Atukpai, and other areas within her jurisdiction to reduce poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and other social vices such as prostitution and stealing among the youth.

On culture, Mr Boafo stressed the need for stakeholders to re-package the country's cultural practices and make them attractive and desirable for consumption by foreigners, adding "the rewards that come in their wake are immense, very motivating and would reduce unemployment among the youth".

Nii Tetteh Tsuru II, Atukpai Mantse and Gbese Mankralo, pledged to utilise the knowledge, wisdom and experience of Naa Odame to accelerate socio-economic development in the area.

He urged her to be steadfast in deliberations at the traditional council meetings for progress and development. Nii Tsuru appealed to the Electoral Commission to extend the period for the limited registration exercise to ensure that the milling crowds at the workstations could register.