Volta Region House of Chiefs to have expanded membership

The Volta Region House of Chiefs (VRHC) is to have 103 more traditional areas as members following the acceptance of representations it made to the National House of Chiefs.

Togbe Afede XIV, President of the House, announced this at an emergency meeting on Wednesday to the applause of members.

“We are cautiously optimistic that when Parliament resumes in October this year, it will pass the necessary legislation to this effect”, he said.

The House currently has 15 permanent members and traditional areas which serve as rotating members.

Togbe Afede said, the National House of Chiefs (NHCs) has also accepted to grant traditional council status to the 103 traditional areas in phases and urged them to provide offices and facilities to this effect.

He said paramount queen-mothers of the current 15 permanent members of the House, would be admitted into the VRHC from January 2013 as observers pending the completion of modalities and legal requirements by the NHCs to admit Queen-mothers into the VRHC and the NHCs.

He said the queen-mothers would however not be entitled to allowances because of their observer status.

Togbe Kwaku Ayim III, Fiaga of Ziavi and Togbe VII, Fiaga of Klikor commended the leadership of the House for working to bring all traditional areas in the region into the House.

Togbe Ayim observed that it had taken 60 years to achieve the feat and commended Togbe Afede and his Vice-President Nana Soglo Alloh II for providing committed and qualitative leadership to the House.

He said this would help consolidate unity among chiefs in the region in pursuit of common goals.

“I am overwhelmed”, Togbe Addo said, and asked the House to unanimously renew the mandate of Togbe Afede and Nana Alloh when their first term ends as a sign of gratitude for their achievements.