Chiefs advised to seek higher education and leadership skills

Chiefs have been advised to seek higher education and leadership skills to help accelerate development in their communities.

The President of the Africa Chieftaincy Transformational Leadership Institute(ACTLI), Dr Francis Atiah Maltiby, who gave the advise noted that the structure and system of development now would gradually fade out unproductive chiefs.

He was addressing about 60 queen and chiefs in the Central Region at a day’s seminar to educate the traditional rulers on how to seek support to accelerate development of their communities.

The program was organized by ACTLI in collaboration with Egret Consult Limited.

The participants were taken through topics on sustainable community development, negotiation and community peace and global political economy.

Some of the traditional rulers at the workshop

Dr Maltiby charged the traditional rulers to step up their leadership skills and think outside the box for innovative ideas that can improve their communities.  

He noted that though chiefs have powers, they have failed to utilise it because they have failed to move from their comfort zones.

21st Century chiefs

He said it was important that the 21st century chiefs sought to educate themselves to the highest level possible, adding that education coupled with good leadership skills were the necessary tools needed to develop a community.

Research findings

Dr Maltiby stated that after a three-year research into the chieftaincy institution in Ghana and Africa, it was realized that the institution needed a radical transformation where chiefs would see themselves as 'servant leaders' rather than 'ruler leaders'.

“In future, your blood line would not be enough for one to be a chief. Your subjects would hold you accountable for your leadership” he stated.

The Chief Executive Officer of Egret Consult Limited, Mrs Mary Anang urged the participants to be bold and get involved in the running of their communities because they have a very crucial role to play in community development.

She admonished them to put their words into actions and work towards changing the current state of their communities by bringing developmental projects to their people.

Chieftaincy politicized

Some of the participants expressed concern about the politicization of the chieftaincy institution, saying it was about time chiefs took over the development of their communities.