The Kumasi Traditional Council has called on the government to immediately restore the power for chiefs to summon their subjects. The Council hopes this will give back some respect to traditional chieftaincy.

Citifmonline.com reports that the president of the Council and Chief of Bantama, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia, said the cooperation of the president in restoring the power should happen without delay.

He added that this will help traditional leaders to play many meaningful roles in solving pertinent issues in their local areas.

Speaking to the media on his New Year message in Kumasi, he emphasised the fight against galamsey, for instance, would have been easier if the chiefs had the power of summons.

Nana Amankwatia explained that the Council receives daily reports about people engaging in galamsey and can do a lot to help increase the success rate of the ban on galamsey.

It is not clear whether the government would move with the speed the chiefs are demanding but this is a matter previous governments have promised to consider.