Traditional leaders urged to remain neutral

The Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Major General Richard Addo-Gyane, has urged traditional leaders to remain neutral in political activities due to their importance in resolving conflicts and the maintainance of peace.

He said traditional authorities ought to refrain from politics and prioritise their communities’ concerns and play their role as overlords in addressing pertinent issues such as illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey”, and conflicts in their areas.

“Our respected chiefs should not allow themselves to be sucked into the seemingly and increasingly confused arena of modern African politics.

We expect our chiefs to remain the conscience and custodians of our heritage, including our natural resources, culture, plurality, social cohesion and general decency. Under no circumstances should traditional leaders abrogate this responsibility to other persons,” the Commandant stated.

He was addressing traditional leaders from Teshie at a two-day workshop dubbed “Homowo School Day”, held at the centre in collaboration with the Teshie Traditional Council.

The workshop aimed at equipping chiefs and traditional leaders with skills in conflict prevention and peacebuilding as the country approaches the December 7 general election; and also enhance the capacity of traditional leaders to strengthen community resilience against conflict and act as agents of change.

It brought together 40 traditional leaders who were trained in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding, as well as key legal principles such as the Chieftaincy Act and the 1992 Constitution.

Confidence

Maj. General Addo-Gyane expressed confidence in traditional leaders’ experience and knowledge in conflict resolution while indicating that the workshop would complement their efforts in discharging their responsibilities and formal governance structures.

“l am confident that the knowledge that will be impacted together with the rich experiences of the chiefs and traditional leaders invited for the workshop will complement formal governance systems and structure for effective governance and security provision that will promote human rights, accountability, social justice, national development and prosperity for all,” Maj.  General Addo Gyane said.

Role of chiefs

The Teshie Mantse, Gbetsoolo Nii Ashitey Akomfra III, expressed gratitude to the KAIPTC for organising the event and emphasised the timeliness of the workshop.

"We have observed that some ministers have undergone training even before they begin their assigned responsibilities. For those of us who are chiefs, kings, and elders—if you have been enstooled, it is often without any formal training, especially since some positions are hereditary.

This is a great concern, as not all situations need court intervention, but the authorities of chiefs to resolve them,” he stated.

The Teshie Mantse urged sub-chiefs and other traditional leaders to take advantage of the workshop to obtain the needed knowledge and learn the desired skills to help resolve conflicts and maintain peace in their jurisdictions.

The Registrar of the Greater-Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Enoch Addo, encouraged the chiefs to always lead by example and reminded them of their responsibility as community leaders and protectors of their territory, heritage and culture.

He stated that the current political environment was hostile; hence “the only institution that people look up to is the chieftaincy institution. So, if the chieftaincy institution is also flawed then in no time people will look down on traditional authorities”.