Work to prevent chieftaincy disputes - Houses of Chiefs urged
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Media Foundation (GMeF), a non-governmental organisation, (NGO) Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu has asked Regional Houses of Chiefs to work towards the prevention of chieftaincy disputes from occurring.
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He said the various Houses of Chiefs did not only exist for the purpose of solving chieftaincy disputes but also to prevent them from occurring.
Mr Ahenu, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, however, commended the various regional houses of chiefs for their efforts in managing and preventing some chieftaincy disputes in the country.
He entreated them to put in place measures that would help them prevent or be ahead of disputes in their regions and the nation at large.
He noted that conflicts interrupted and delayed development and cost governments millions of cedis to resolve disputes or rebuild the nation.
Mr Ahenu called on the traditional rulers and kingmakers in the country to ensure the rapid resolution of disputes that harmed the image of the chieftaincy institution.
Registrars and Research Officers
He appealed to the regional houses of chiefs to organise periodic meetings that would among others aim at giving the Registrars and Research Officers an opportunity to assess the chieftaincy situation in the country.
Mr Ahenu added that the offices of registrars and research officers were the best to pick up signals of imminent troubles since they delve deep into chieftaincy matters and report back to the houses.
He stated that regular meetings with the registrars and research officers would also help expose individual challenges and achievements that would lead to the charting of a road map towards a chieftaincy institution free of disputes.
Mr Ahenu called on the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to organise regular courses for the registrars and researchers to help them to be more effective in their line of duty.
He noted that the councils needed proper tools and equipment as well as logistics to take and keep records of the activities.
He indicated that letters and other important documents and information on the councils should not be sent to private business operators for typing and printing.
Appeal
Mr Ahenu called on people whose cases are pending before the house or court to exercise maximum restraint and allow the institutions of state to use their mechanisms to arrive at amicable and peaceful resolutions of the cases.
He appealed to the chiefs to also assist the government to pursue its development agenda in the regions.