Constitutional Lawyer, Nana Asante Bediatuo has argued passionately against chiefs participating in partisan politics.
Asante Bediatuo, whose many qualifications include corporate and transactional law and public policy advocacy, is a sub-chief, who plays an advisory role to the paramount chief of the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area, Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panin II, in the Eastern Region.
Speaking on the famous STARR CHAT show with Bola Ray on STARR 103.5FM Wednesday October 1, the Apagyahene said it is a bad idea for chiefs to get involved in party politics, but expressed concern about how the traditional rulers are delegated to the background on matters of governance.
“I don't think that they should do party politics...It’s just about being able to engage in the governance of a country and how decisions are made, and as leaders of people, I think chiefs are in politics already. But I think because their subjects, and their citizens are of various different party political affiliations, it is useful that they do not themselves engage, but then I think they should be given a better role in what they do," he told host Bola Ray.
According to the Apagyahene, it will be prudent if the chiefs are made to play a pivotal role in governance. He stated that so many communities in Ghana will be lawless without the presence of these traditional rulers, and said it was important for governments to “acknowledge and enhance” the role of chiefs.
Asante Bediatuo said it is crucial that the president cede to the Chiefs, his power to appoint 30 percent of appointees at the Assemblies, as part of measures towards encouraging synergy and collaboration between the local governance structures and the stools and skins.
“I think that chiefs, for example, ought to be able to participate in local governance at the district assembly level, because it’s not partisan, right? And instead of the president nominating 30% of Assembly heads, they should have the chiefs do that”, he argued.
Making reference to his own experience to buttress his argument, the Apagyahene, who used to be an appointee at the Akyem Abuakwa Assembly said he realised the Palace and the Assembly duplicated efforts towards developing the area because there was no synergy between them.
“When I was an appointee in the early 2000’s, I found out that what the assemblies were doing, the Okyehene and his counsel were also trying to do, but they weren’t talking to each other so nobody knew. The only reason they were able to breach the divide in terms of what they were doing was because I was there, and I was able to point them out.”
He also asked that more attention be focused on ensuring that the use of land revenue inures to the benefit of citizens of traditional authorities.
“One of the key reasons is that 55% of stool land revenue go to the district assemblies and yet the chiefs, the custodians of the land themselves don’t have a say in how they spend that money”.
Nana Asante Bediatuo is the second celebrated Ghanaian to be inducted into the ‘Starr Hall of Fame'.
