Chiefs must account for use of royalties

Mr Kwabena Sarfo, Member of Parliament for Offinso South, on Friday suggested that stools and skins that take royalties should be made to account to central government since the perception on its use was very unfavourable.

"The huge money given to chiefs in the form of royalties does seem to make any impact on the lives of the people."

The member was contributing to a debate for the approval 125.6 billion cedis, budgetary estimates of the Ministry of Lands and Forestry.

He said though it was a constitutional obligation, the improper use of such royalties should be questioned.

He called for the amendment of relevant clauses to make it mandatory for stools and skins to submit a plan of action or project proposals before royalties are released and its use monitored.

"The use of such revenue for recurrent expenditure should never be accepted."

The member said the ordinary people should reap the benefits of such royalties and not a few.