Social Workshop Chiefs Chiefs in Eastern Region attend workshop in Koforidua

Koforidua, Nov. 16 GNA - Chiefs in the Eastern Region have

attended a two-day workshop to keep them abreast of the new

Chieftaincy Act to enable them to perform their duties with

maximum efficiency. It was organised by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs in

collaboration with the World Bank Judicial Service Project. . Daasebre Oti Boateng, President of the Regional House of

Chiefs, indicated that so many things had changed under the new

chieftaincy laws and there was the need for chiefs to acquire the

new knowledge. He said under the Act a chief cannot be destooled by just

removing his sandals and slaughtering a sheep. Daasebre Oti Boateng indicated that before a chief can be

destooled under the Act, proper charges have to preferred against

him at the House of Chiefs and the accused chief be given the

opportunity to respond to them. He, therefore, urged the chiefs to educate the youth on the new

laws to prevent them from taking the law into their hands. Daasebre Oti Boateng said chiefs must work towards

maintaining peace at their Traditional Areas because having peace in

the country depends largely on their efforts. Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Member of Parliament (MP), for

Subin, urged the participants to do away with outmoded cultural

practices such as widowhood rites and female genital mutilation

which are inimical to progress. He mentioned offences under which a chief could be destooled

as: a conviction for high treason, criminal offences spelt under the

criminal code, such as stealing, fraud and dishonestly receiving

among other offences. Mr Boafo indicated that a chief cannnot be destooled if he is

only arrested by the Police, detained but freed and not convicted in

a law court. He mentioned chiefs recognized under the Chieftaincy Act as the

Asantehene, Omanhene, Divisional Chiefs, Sub-Divisional Chiefs,

Odikro and other chiefs recognized by the National House of

Chiefs. Mr Boafo said chieftaincy is a permanent institution and no

Government can abolish it, adding that, Parliament cannot make a

law to recognize or de-recognize a chief. "You do not need the recognition of any government to be a

chief," he explained. "Parliament cannot make any law regarding

chieftaincy without consulting chiefs. "Your authority is supreme and you should at all times send

cases to the Judicial Committees of the Houses for adjudication."