Chiefs should be paid salary -NCCE official

Ho, Sept 19, GNA - Mr Richard Issaka Zakari, the Volta Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has suggested to the government to consider paying salaries to traditional authorities from the Consolidated Fund to enable them live dignified lives.

He mentioned the important role chiefs play in good governance and said it was time the government to reciprocate this by recognizing their importance.

Mr Zakari made the call at a day's workshop on promoting women for 2006 local government elections and enhancing collaboration between chiefs and the district assembly organized by Community Action, a non-governmental organization, for Asogli, Awudome and Hokpe Traditional councils in the Ho Municipality He said even though chiefs are not allowed to do politics almost all the political authorities call on chiefs during their political campaign periods.

Mr Zakari therefore called on the government to give chiefs the right recognition to enable them play a meaningful role required of them.

"If they are well recognized, they will enjoy a dignified life and play important role in good governance."

Speaking on the Non Participation of Women in Politics and Decision Making: The Cost to Development. Ms Lena Alai, the Volta Regional Director Women Department of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, called on traditional authorities to review and modify outmoded customs that relegate women to the background.

She appealed to traditional authorities to recommend hardworking and committed women in their communities to contest the district assembly elections.

"Women are good managers and will help develop their communities when they are promoted by traditional authorities.'' Mr Orisha Afa, Executive Director of Community Action, said the local government system portrayed dismal picture of women participation in the assembly and its structures.

''Coupled with this chiefs are only marginally involved in the formal local government system although they continue to play major roles in leadership and development of the communities.'' Mr Afa therefore called for greater participation of women and collaboration between chiefs and the assembly to ensure effective and efficient local governance.

He said stories from most of the country indicated that the local government system was not working well and assemblies do not meet regularly, sub-committees of the Executive Committee are not functioning making it difficult for the assembly to make input into work in the assembly.