Builsa Traditional Council resolves Sandema dispute

 The Builsa Traditional Council has resolved the Sandema chieftaincy dispute which was referred to the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs by two claimants to the skin.

A delegation from the traditional council announced this at a meeting of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs with the Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Daanah, at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

Following the resolution of the dispute, the delegation disclosed that December 12, 2013 had been set as the tentative date for the enskinment of a new chief for Sandema, who would serve as the overlord of the Builsa Traditional Area.

The position became vacant following the death of Nab Dr Ayieta Azantilow on November 14, 2006 after he had reigned for 75 years. He was one of the longest-reigning chiefs in the country.

The Minster of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Daanah, said the government recognised the important role chiefs played in the socio-economic development of the country; it was, therefore, taking steps to resource them to facilitate their work.

He also said steps were being taken to get lawyers to serve as counsels for the houses of chiefs which did not have counsels, and added that the government would continue to pay the allowances of paramount chiefs. He, therefore, called on metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to pay the allowances of divisional chiefs in their jurisdictions.

According to Dr Danaah, the survival of the chieftaincy institution depended on how it was managed today, adding that the representation of queens in the regional and national houses of chiefs must be taken seriously since their opinions could not be ignored.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, said chieftaincy was either at the centre or one of the  causes of disputes or conflicts.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said for chiefs to avert conflicts, they must take the lead as agents of the needed socio-cultural change and fight questionable and inappropriate cultural practices such as banishment, female genital mutilation, trial by ordeal, and advised that abusive rites and rituals must be eradicated through deliberate influence and authority by the chiefs.

The President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Sakote Traditional Area, Naba Sigri Bewong, said the house was facing numerous challenges, and called for the intervention of the ministry.

He said their guest house was in a deplorable condition and needed renovation, adding that the house had two official vehicles but one driver and requested that another driver be employed for the other vehicle.

"Some paramount chiefs have applied to this house for some of their divisional chiefs to be elevated. They are many and we need clear-cut guidelines on this issue. When I raised this issue at the Standing Committee of the National House of Chiefs, I was put off. I was told it was up to each paramount chief to decide what he should do to his divisional chiefs".

 Dr Henry Seidu Daanah, in the company of the  Directors of Administration and Traditional Affairs, Mr Constant Gladzah and Mr  Emmanuel Addoquaye Tetteh respectively, who are also on a three-day working visit to the Upper East Region, earlier on paid courtesy calls on the Sakote Naba, Bawku Naba, Bonga Naba, Nangode Naba and the Paga Pio at their palaces.