B/A chiefs schooled on natural resources governance

Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II , President of Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, on Wednesday called on chiefs in the region to accept the new traditional authorities’ transparent and accountability charter on forest and natural resources governance.

He said the document, currently under review was to guide and regulate the management of revenue from forest and natural resources in the region.

“We can win the support, trust and confidence of our subjects by being transparent and accountable to them on the use of revenues accruing from our forest and natural resources,” he said.

The President was speaking at a day’s workshop organised by the Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD), for members of the House to review the charter for validation, adoption and implementation by members.

The workshop also aimed at promoting the participation of traditional authorities and indigenous institutions in local level development, natural resource governance and community organizational development.

Nana Aterkyi, who is also Omanhene of Kukuom, noted that there were a lot of chieftaincy disputes in the region, citing that some of them resulted from lack of transparency and accountability in the management of revenue accrued from natural resources.

“If we allow our community members to benefit equitably from revenue from our forest and natural resources, they will contribute significantly to the growth and expansion of our forest resource for mutual benefit,” he emphasized.

Mr. Wilberforce Laate, Deputy Executive Director of CIKOD, said public perception showed that, traditional authorities were contributing positively to forest governance in Ghana through the enforcement of traditional customary laws and regulations that ensured sustainable management and use of forest resources.

He observed that some chiefs hijacked stool land revenues, and that had resulted in resource-related conflicts in some traditional areas.

Mr. Laate suggested that traditional authorities adopt laid down procedures to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of revenue from royalties.

He expressed optimism that the charter would put traditional authorities in strong position to provide leadership to forest fringe communities, to effectively engage with the Forestry Commission and other stakeholders for proper accountability and transparency.**