Steps taken to reposition chieftaincy institution

Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa, Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, said government has taken steps to reposition the chieftaincy institution to continue to play its important role in strengthening the traditional systems.

He said for the realisation of this role, government has provided counselors for the remaining six regional houses of chiefs that were without counselors to help dispose of chieftaincy disputes as quickly as possible to enhance peace.

He said allowances are also paid to chiefs and queen mothers enskinned to assist in governance of the communities.

Dr. Daannaa was addressing the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs at a sensitisation workshop on “elimination of harmful traditional practices” held in Wa.

He appealed to chiefs to establish museums to preserve artifacts and monuments to tell the history of their traditional areas, and as well attract tourists.

Referring to the 16 chieftaincy cases before the house, Dr. Daannaa gave the assurance that allowance would be paid to judicial adjudication committee to dispose of the cases as quickly as possible, saying: “government expects action and results in all the cases”.

He urged the chiefs to use wisdom to settle all chieftaincy disputes, while government institute measures to strengthen the chieftaincy institution.

The Chieftaincy Minister mentioned the amendment of some provisions in the chieftaincy Act that makes it an offence for any person in the community to refuse to attend to a chief’s call or subpoena.

Dr. Daannaa assured the chiefs that work on the office complex for the House would start soon to provide them with a decent office accommodation and a guest house for visitors.

Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton, acting President of Upper West Regional House of Chief, in his address advised the chiefs to eliminate all customary practices that were found to be dehumanising the people.

He said the resilience of the institution could only be sustained with the advancement of time, if it was able to response to social changes under the democratic dispensation in which it operates.

Kuoro Kanton gave the assurance that the chiefs would work with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs to achieve the goals under the flagship project aimed at eliminating harmful traditional practices.

He urged chiefs in the pilot communities to canvas their people to support the initiative by assisting the research assistants engaged by the Ministry.

The project is being sponsored by USAID.