Government does not install chiefs-Boafo

Keta, May 24, GNA - The government says it does not install chiefs and would therefore not meddle in the selection and installation of a chief in any traditional area.

Royal houses should therefore apply their traditions to select successors to eliminate rifts bedeviling the chieftaincy sector of late. Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, said this at a durbar of chiefs from various traditional areas in Akatsi, Ketu and Keta districts on Wednesday at Keta to round up his three-day visit to the region.

"The government only comes in to support after you have successfully selected a chief of your choice and that process does not involve the government," he said.

The minister was responding to an appeal by Togbe Hor II, Makorsor of the Some Traditional Area.

The chief had called for the acceptance and installation of the regent of Anlo, Togbe Sri III, as the substantive Awomefia of Anlo, claiming the regent held the banner to the development of the area.

Mr Boafo met chiefs from the South and North Tongu districts at Sogakope and the Aflao area at Aflao and told them that the government had taken a decision on the creation of 103 new paramount chiefs throughout the country .

He said a good number of them are from the Volta Region but financial constraints were among obstacles holding back the implementation of that decision.

Mr Boafo said if the chiefs would agree to forego monies to be paid them by the government as a result of the elevation, that would give the government the leverage to implement the decision.

The Minister also appealed to the chiefs to upgrade their education backgrounds by taking advantage of the proposed Royal College. "The days when illiterates were chiefs fighting only wars were gone and we need those who can help in development," he said. Mr Boafo appealed to the three families locked up in a chieftaincy dispute in Adidome to resolve their differences and cooperate in installing a chief.

Togbe Azaxie Degenu III, the Paramount Chief of the Agave Traditional Area, appealed to the government to cede part of the Assemblies Common Fund to chiefs for development. Mr Boafo was installed a honorary chief of Aflao under the name Togbe Kekeli (Shining Star).