Queens urged to help resolve chieftaincy disputes in VR

The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, has appealed to paramount queens in the region to take proactive steps to help resolve the numerous chieftaincy disputes threatening progress in the various communities.

He said there were now 66 chieftaincy dispute cases before the Judicial Committee of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs (VRHC), which was a disincentive for investments and job and wealth creation in the region.

The situation, Mr Gunu said, was also inimical to the government’s Resetting Agenda and 24-Hour Economy initiative.

He made the appeal when the executives of the Volta Region Queen Mothers’ Association called on him in his office in Ho last Tuesday.

Harmony

Mr Gunu observed there was greater harmony and fewer conflicts among the queens in the region than among the chiefs.

“We need the wisdom and wise counsel of our queens, who are our mothers, to address this problem as a matter of urgency,” he added.

The regional minister gave an assurance that the government was aware of the sterling roles of queens in the preservation of peace and national development, adding that they must be included in efforts to address chieftaincy disputes and apply their wise counsel to bring harmony to all traditional areas.

Meanwhile, Mr Gunu said the Volta Regional Coordinating Council was taking appropriate steps to assist the Judicial Committee of the VRCC in addressing the numerous chieftaincy disputes in the region without further delay.

“We need total peace for investments and businesses to flourish,” he told the queens.    

Inclusiveness

The acting President of the Volta Region Queen Mothers’ Association, Mamaga Sename III, said it was gratifying to note that the regional minister recognised the capacity of queens in matters affecting development in the region and called for stronger collaboration with municipal and district assemblies on the progress of all development projects in their areas to enhance inclusiveness.

The Treasurer of the association and Paramount Queen of the Agotime Traditional Area, Manye Kwawudade II, attributed some chieftaincy disputes in the region to individuals making the wrong choices in occupying the stool.

“The choice of a chief is not based on money but on laid-down traditional procedures,” she said.

Others called for equitable distribution of projects among communities and on contractors for roads and other projects in the communities to make it a point of introducing themselves to the queen before the commencement of the projects.