'Don't Sideline Chiefs In Decentralisation'

From William Yaw Owusu, Akosombo

Tuesday, 22 August 2006
A WORKSHOP aimed at building the capacities of chiefs in the country’s decentralisation process has ended at Akosombo with a call on the government to increase the role of traditional authorities in local government administration.

Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, president of the National House of Chiefs, who made the call said, "As far as Nananom are concerned, we have been disenfranchised at the district assembly level in the whole process."

Odeneho Ababio said chiefs have the responsibility to wage war against poverty and ensure the protection of the welfare of the people and their role in this cannot be underestimated.

The workshop, organised by the National House of Chiefs in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF), was attended by representatives of the Regional House of Chiefs, Members of Parliament and District Chief Executives.

It was under the theme, "The role of chiefs in Ghana’s decentralization and development process."

Odeneho Ababio called for a national debate on whether or not there should be a second Chamber (legislative body) for the country.

He commended the President for creating the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture saying, "this is the first in our history."

In a keynote address, Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, said the fact that the constitution does not permit chiefs to participate in active politics does not mean that they should be sidelined in the country’s decentralisation process.

"As the sector Minister, I am not going to sit down to allow this to persist. I will liaise with government and other arms of government to ensure that our chiefs play significant roles in the country’s development drive."

He advised DCEs to see traditional authorities as development partners and consult them in the development of policy direction saying, "your future success depends largely on Nananom."

Mr Boafo also advised chiefs to help expose those who fan chieftaincy disputes and investigate the backgrounds of people appointed as Nkosuohene (development chiefs).

Klaus D. Leotzer, Resident Representative of KAF, said traditional authorities should be given the chance to play a leading role in the decentralisation process of the country.

"KAF wants to promote broad-base participation of the people in decision-making and this we believe could be done through our chiefs."

He said KAF will use next year to build the capacities of chiefs so that "they can help to push the decentralisation agenda forward."

Topics discussed at the workshop included "Participation of chiefs in modern decentralisation in Ghana" and "Decentralisation within the traditional system of authority in Ghana."

They were handled by Prof. Joseph Atsu Ayee, Dean of Faculty of Social Science and Naa Prof. J. S. Nabila, respectively, both of the University of Ghana, Legon.