National House of Chiefs endorses Dr Daanaa
The National House of Chiefs has stated that it is not opposed to the nomination of Dr H.S. Daannaa, a visually impaired, for the position of the Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.
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The Wulugu Naba and President of the NHC, Naa Prof John S. Nabila, therefore, expressed the hope that the Appointments Committee would vet and approve his nomination for endorsement by Parliament.
"We thank you for nominating Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa as Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs," he said.
Naa Prof Nabila gave the endorsement Monday when members of the Standing Committee of the National House of Chiefs (NHC) paid a courtesy call on the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama at the Castle, Osu.
The members were at the Castle to congratulate President Mahama on his victory in the December 7, 2012 election and his subsequent swearing in.
Some chiefs have raised concern about the appointment of Dr Daannaa, who is visually impaired, as the Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.
They claimed that certain aspects of the tradition and customs in some traditional areas did not allow physically challenged persons to hold such high office.
Therefore, the assurance by the NHC that it did not oppose the appointment of Dr Daannaa would come as a great relief to the government.
Speaking on other issues, Naa Prof Nabila indicated that the NHC had decided that the regional houses of chiefs and the NHC should constitute mediation committees to resolve chieftaincy and other disputes.
He said the performance of the duty would involve cost, and, therefore, called on the government to help with the funding to facilitate the work of the mediation committees.
Naa Prof Nabila appealed to the President and the Vice President to visit the National House of Chiefs and regional houses of chiefs to interact and deliberate with the chiefs on matters of national interest from time to time.
He thanked President Mahama for the quick response given to the request for means of transport to the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs, which had enhanced the mobility of chiefs in the performance of their statutory obligations.
Prof Nabila congratulated President Mahama and Vice-President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur on assuming the highest positions of the country.
He again lauded all political parties and their candidates, as well as independent candidates, the Electoral Commission (EC), security agencies, the National Peace Council, the media, the electorate as well the local and foreign observers for their various roles in ensuring a peaceful and successful general election.
For his part, President Mahama urged traditional authorities to use the alternative dispute mechanism to resolve chieftaincy disputes instead of resorting to the judicial process.
He said it was only through consensus that the various factions could accept the outcome of the settlements and ensure a lasting resolution of the disputes.
He said traditional authorities should use the judicial process as the last resort for settling chieftaincy disputes.
The President gave the assurance that the government would work with the NHC to set up alternative dispute resolution committees in all the regional houses of chiefs.
He said the task of the committees would be to build consensus among the various parties to ensure lasting resolution of the disputes.
On land administration, President Mahama underscored the need for traditional rulers to liaise with the government to streamline the acquisition process.
That, he said, was to make it easier for investors to acquire land for development purposes.
On the allowance for chiefs, the President described the allowance, which was increased from GH¢80 to GH¢150, as woefully inadequate.
President Mahama, therefore, affirmed the government's commitment to review the allowance to make it more realistic.
The President said that the chieftaincy institution was recognised by the country's constitution, and pledged that the government would continue to support the work of chiefs.
For instance, he said, the provision of vehicles to the NHC and the Regional Houses of Chiefs was an attempt to facilitate the work of the traditional rulers.
President Mahama said the government would collaborate with the NHC towards admitting paramount queens to the regional houses of chiefs and the NHC.
Besides, he said, the government would ensure the rehabilitation of the buildings of the regional houses of chiefs and the NHC.
Story by Musah Yahaya Jafaru