Chiefs suggests involvement of chiefs in governance of country

Sunyani, July 8, GNA - Nana Owusu-Ansah Kokroko II, Krontihene of Wenchi Traditional Area, has suggested a three-tier administration of the country to include traditional rulers as the third segment with codified and specified roles.

He was of the view that the current dual sys tem comprising the central and local authorities should be increased to three with the inclusion of traditional authorities to replace traditional councils. Nana Kokroko, who is Head of the Local Government Service (LGS), appealed to traditional leaders to consider it a moral obligation to seek expansion of the present system of public administration from the two-tier governance to three with a well-defined and responsible role for them.

He was speaking at a three-day workshop organised jointly by the National House of Chiefs and the Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a German political and local governance non-governmental organization, for members of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in Sunyani. The workshop, under the theme: "Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759 and the ethics of a Chief" aimed at broadening the understanding of traditional rulers on the new chieftaincy act for its proper and effective application.

Nana Kokroko, a former Clerk of Parliament, recalled "in the colonial period governance was somehow decentralized to include Native or Traditional Authority."

"Local government was not as deeply decentralized as it is today but it recognized the role of Traditional Authority and gave it Executive, Legislative and Judicial roles at the grass root level where the mobilization of the people was of prime concern to the Central Executive," he said.

Nana Kokroko said the three levels of governance would complement each other's effort adding the Central Authority maintaining its commanding lead in the general administration, law and order, security and finance of the country.

Mr. Alex Asum-Ahensah, Member of Parliament for Jaman North and Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, expressed regret that the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759 was very important document expected to guide traditional rulers in the execution of their functions but it had not been disseminated adequately for their understanding and benefit. He therefore lauded KAS for their efforts and expressed the hope that it would continue to support the NHC to organise similar workshops in the remaining nine Regional Houses of Chiefs for the benefit of all Traditional Rulers.

Naa Professor John S. Nabila, President of NHC, said the Chieftaincy Act 2008 sought to strengthen the role of chieftaincy in the administration of the country because inconsistencies contained in the now repealed Act 370 with some provisions and roles of chiefs in the 1992 constitution were rectified in the new act.