Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called on Chiefs to be in the forefront in the fight against outmoded traditional practices especially practices that directly or indirectly discriminate against women and children.
“They are rational and scientific reasons behind these traditional rules but in the same vain we should not be afraid of discarding those rules and practices that do not fit in with modern and current realities and norms, especially practices that directly or indirectly discriminate against women and children”.
“It is difficult for example to find justification for some of the rites that preexist today among many of our people, so I ask you to be in the forefront in fighting outmoded practices which should have no place in Ghana in the 21st century” the Vice President added.
Whiles speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate the reconstituted Northern Regional House of Chiefs in Tamale, the Vice President also praised the contributions of the House of Chiefs to national development and said “the chieftaincy institution will continue to be an indispensable part of our history and national development”.
“You will continue to be the upholders of our National values and aspirations as a society” the Vice President added.
“Government recognizers that, in order to ensure the success of the program for social and economic transformation that has been put before the Ghanaian people, it is important that we bring the traditional role of our chiefs into the modern constitutional setup under which we govern our country”
Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia also noted that “the Chieftaincy Ministry in collaboration with the National House of Chiefs has also begun the process of organizing and digitizing the records of the National House of Chiefs, particularly records in the National register of Chiefs”.
“Government is also committed to assisting the National House of Chiefs to moving speedily to finishing work on the codification of traditional norms and rules that have guided our communities throughout the ages”.
Overlord of Dagbon and President of the Northern regional House of Chiefs, Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II asked government to review the quantum and frequency of resources allocated to the House of Chiefs to enable them adequately carry out their duties.
He said “delays in the release of funds are a frequent problem that we hope will be looked into and remedied”.
“We are fully aware of the enormous responsibilities and duties the 1992 constitution and the Chieftaincy Aact 2008, Act 759 places on us to regulate and manage traditional governance in Ghana” the Ya-Na added.
Ndan Ya-Na also appealed to government to support the families of those who are suffering from the annual spillage of the Bagre dam and take steps to prevent it from reoccurring.
The Minister for Chieftaincy and religious affairs Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, urged members of the house to abide by the 1992 constitution and the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759 and to promote development within their jurisdictions and Ghana at large.
He revealed that, “due to the COVID-19, the peace process of the Bimbilla issue has delayed, now that COVID-19 has winded down, we will be continuing soon with Togbe Sri III”.
Government in August 2019, commissioned the Awoamefia of Anlo, Togbe Sri III, to solely mediate the long standing Bimbilla chieftaincy dispute in the Northern Region.
Story By: Edward A. Ken-zorre
