Chiefs accuse unit committees of undermining their authority

Ejisu (Ash), April 28, GNA-Chiefs in the Ejisu traditional area have accused unit committees in the Ejisu-Juaben district of attempts to undermine their authority as traditional rulers and also obstructing smooth development of the area.

They alleged that in most communities instead of the unit committees teaming up with the chiefs to bring about physical development, they rather turn to dictate to chiefs on development matters or even act in isolation of the chiefs.

The chiefs levelled the accusations when they contributed to discussions at a forum organised by the Ejisu-Juaben district secretariat of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in connection with the weeklong celebration of the fifth annual Constitution Week at Ejisu on Thursday.

The traditional rulers observed that in certain instances the unit committees go along without any consultation nor permission of chiefs who are custodians of the land to demarcate and even sell out parcels of the land.

Nana Aboagye Agyei, Ejisuhene, attributed the unhealthy relation between the unit committees and chiefs to ignorance on the part of the committees on their role vis-=E0-vis that of chiefs. He therefore called on the appropriate authority, to as a matter of urgency organise an intensive education forum to enlighten the unit committees more on their role to forestall the problems they are currently creating.

Mr Johnson Opoku, Ejisu-Juaben District Director of the NCCE was equally worried about the struggle and rivalry between assembly members and unit committee members for power and recognition. He made it clear that they all formed structures of the local government system and had a common objective of championing development in their areas and for that matter, they should strive to work as one body.

Mr Dwomoh Sarpong, Presiding member of the district assembly, commended chiefs in the area for the assistance and support in respect of development projects and assured them that the assembly would always strive to co-operate with them in management of the district. He reminded chiefs of the need to always give feed back on policies of the assembly to the chiefs and people by way of holding regular fora after any assembly meeting with the people.