Gabusu calls for the replication of Hohoe chiefs' council

Hohoe, May 21, GNA - Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, on Monday called for the replication of a chiefs coordinating council that operates under the auspices of the Hohoe District Assembly in other districts.

He said the Hohoe innovation, called District Traditional Heads Council, includes tribal, ethnic and settler community heads and serves as a platform to deepen participation of local authorities in governance.

Togbega Gabusu, the President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, was speaking at a mini durbar by the chiefs and people of the Gbi Traditional Area in honour of Mr Samson Kweku Boafo, the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture.

He suggested that a special allowance be worked out for paramount chiefs in district capitals to support their role in decentralization as is the case for those in the regional capitals. Togbega Gabusu appealed to the government and other development agencies to take into account the unique structure of chieftaincy in the Volta Region in their dealing with the chiefs in the region. Togbega Gabusu said out of 20 traditional areas only four had been elevated to paramount areas.

He appealed to the minister to use his good offices to expedite action on the elevation of the rest and also for the early promulgation of the chieftaincy bill into law.

Mr Boafo lauded the Hohoe District Committee of Chiefs and pledged to promote replication in the rest of the country. He said his ministry was liaising with foreign missions to see how they could support development through traditional authorities. Mr Boafo said 103 applications for elevation to paramount areas in the Volta Region was pending and asked for restraint to enable the ministry to address the issue.

Mr John Peter Amewu, Hohoe District Chief Executive, called for cooperation between traditional authorities and district assemblies to promote tourism. He said cooperation between the Hohoe District Assembly and traditional authorities was good.