Integrate chiefs into the district assembly concept

Adomfe (Ash), Aug. 23, GNA - The chief of Adomfe in the Asante-Akim South District, has added his voice to recent calls by some chiefs to amend the Constitution to assimilate chiefs into the district assembly concept.

Nana Adomfe Agyei II, who made the call, said not only would the inclusion of chiefs in the district assemblies bring sanity into the assemblies but also serve the interest of all the people better. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Adomfe on Monday, he could not fathom why district assemblies, which were supposed to be non-partisan should be headed by political appointees, sidelining chiefs who were supposed to be development partners of the assemblies. Nana Adomfe Agyei said it was unfortunate that the assembly concept had taken on a political character, contrary to the basis upon which it was established.

He said for instance that most positions in the assemblies had become the preserve of party faithful thereby rendering its non-partisanship meaningless.

Nana Adomfe Agyei, however, blamed the framers of the Constitution for not serving the interest of chiefs in the district assembly concept and therefore called for the amendment of the Constitution to allow chiefs to play some key roles in the assemblies.

He said the active involvement of chiefs in the assemblies would promote rich traditional values and reflect the true character of the district assemblies.