Ho, Feb 24, GNA - Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV, Fiaga of Ziavi Traditional Area, on Tuesday urged female traditional leaders or Queenmothers in the Ho Municipal area to meet frequently to deliberate on issues of local and national interest.

That way, they would be helping to enrich the content of discussions at both the local and national levels, thereby asserting their importance in governance.

Togbe Ayim made the call when he addressed a group of female traditional leaders from the municipality in Ho on Tuesday. The meeting, organized by the Royal Vision International (ROVI), a non-governmental organization, was under the theme, "Female traditional leaders in community development."

Togbe Ayim observed that the rich store of ideas and wisdom of female traditional leaders which formed the core of the traditional political and social systems seemed lost to the modern Ghanaian society. He said in traditional societies of old, female traditional leaders proved to be astute strategists, tacticians, thinkers as well as social and political organizers, both in peace times and in emergencies such as wars. "Their role was monumental. Though regarded as weak physically in actual fact they are strong," Togbe Ayim said.

He said it was therefore time for female traditional leaders to reassert themselves through their own initiatives.

Ms Edem Wuttor, Executive Director of ROVI, said the 1992 Constitution recognizes the position of queenmothers by its definition of a chief. Ms Wuttor said while efforts were being made to create formal structures for Queenmothers as their male counterparts nationally, they should seize the initiative by organizing themselves at the local and district levels. Ms Ellen Alai, Volta Regional Director of the Department of Women, assured the Queenmothers that the department would support any initiatives they would take at the local level to gain visibility in local and national affairs. 24 Feb 10.