Constitution must allow chiefs to participate in active politics

The Consulting Director of the Otumfuo Centre for Traditional Leadership (OCTL), Lepowura Alhaji Mohammed Nuru-Deen Jawula, has called for fundamental changes to be made in the 1992 Constitution to enable chiefs to play a more active role in the governance of the country.

With regard to the 1992 Constitution, the Lepowura expressed the view that the responsibilities and roles of chiefs and traditional authorities had been relegated to the background and their authority subjected to that of the political authorities.

“Our chiefs must have a lot of say when it comes to governing of the nation. However, the Constitution has been skewed in such a way that they are not supposed to participate in active politics that would enable them to contribute immensely as far as the governing of the nation is concerned,” he said.

Chieftaincy conference

Lepowura Jawula made the observation at the opening ceremony of a five-day conference for chiefs and traditional leaders in Ghana at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) in Accra yesterday.

The conference is aimed at training over 50 chiefs across the country in areas such as leadership, governance, conflict and change management, negotiation and documentation skills to enhance their skills in the management of their resources.

This follows an earlier one held three months ago.  After the conference, the participants will be awarded diplomas in chieftaincy management.

Another one would be organised in December this year, which would also train the chiefs in a variety of topics.

The conference will offer the chiefs the opportunity to voice out their concerns and deliberate on how to resolve them to promote the progress of their various communities.

Some of the traditional authorities who are participating in the seminar are the Paramount Chief of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area in the Central Region, Obrempon Nyanful Krampa XI; the Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area, King Dr Noble Odaifo Welentsi III; the Paramount Chief of the Tema Traditional Area, Nii Kraku Adjei II, and the Paramount Chief of the Vakpo Traditional Area in the Volta Region, Tobge Gbogbolulu V.

Capabilities of traditional authorities

According to the Lepowura, chiefs in the country showed that they were very competent before the arrival of the colonial masters.

“Various governments have come and gone and have disappointed Ghanaians. It is time our chiefs, who are the custodians of the lands, are also given the full mandate to oversee the day-to-day running of their communities,” he said.

He stressed that the chieftaincy institution had come a long way, and must keep pace with the political institution, adding that chiefs ought to take their rightful place in the country.

Commenting on the ‘winner-takes-all’ syndrome that had engulfed the political system in the country, he said it was an affront to democracy, “which calls for our full participation in the ruling of the nation as chiefs”.

Modernise your activities

In a short address, King Dr Odaifo Welentsi called on his fellow traditional leaders to be abreast of modern activities and ensure that their operations conformed to modern standards.

“We as traditional leaders owe this country a duty to protect its people and must not allow the political authorities to take us for granted,” he said.