Some chiefs are calling for a 30 per cent representation of the
membership in the local assemblies to enable them to have space to
participate in the country’s local governance.
According to them, allocating the percentage to traditional authorities
would enable them to appoint knowledgeable and experienced citizens to
ensure that the membership of the assemblies was not dictated
exclusively by partisan considerations.
However, the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) is proposing the
establishment of an 11-member Local Development Advisory Council, made
up of chiefs and professional bodies, to oversee the activities of the
local assemblies.
But a governance expert, Dr Eric Osae, had a contrary opinion saying the
position of the IDEG would undermine the authority of the assembly and
so the Council of State should rather be modified and mainstreamed into
the country’s governance architecture to have full representation of
chiefs to not only advise the President, but the Speaker of Parliament
and even the Chief Justice.
These varied views came to light when the IDEG organised a retreat to
discuss the position and role of chiefs in a multi-party local
government system in Accra on Wednesday.
The three-day retreat of influential chiefs and queenmothers is to
provide the platform for traditional authorities to contribute their
views on the best way to enhance their participation in local
governance.
The meeting brought together about 20 influential chiefs and
queenmothers from across the country to debate on the proposal by the
chiefs and IDEG aimed at enhancing the participation of traditional
authorities in local governance to promote sustainable and peaceful
development at the local assemblies.
Article 276(1)
The 70 per cent of the membership of the local assemblies is elected
during the district assembly elections, while the 30 per cent is
appointed by the government.
However, the chiefs are advocating for a review, as the country
prepares towards electing Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief
Executives in 2021.
Article 276 (1) of the 1992 Constitution bars chiefs from taking part in
active party politics and any chief seeking election would have to
abdicate his stool or skin.
However, the Constitution provides for traditional leaders to be appointed to public office positions.
In recent times, The Member of Parliament for Talensi, Mr Robert
Nachinab Doameng Mosore, stepped down in May 2015, after he was enskined
Paramount Chief of Tongo in the Upper East Region.
Chiefs wants 30 percent
Prof. Nana S.K.B. Asante, who has advanced the proposal of the chiefs,
said the institutional representation of the chiefs in the local
assemblies could be achieved by allocating 30 per cent of the membership
of the assemblies to traditional authorities.
The Atwima Apemanimhene, Nana Fobi Kropa III, Prof. Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh,
said Ghana’s chiefs had gone through a gradual process of
marginalisation and exclusion from local government over the past
century.
He said the 30 per cent allocation should, therefore, be given to the
chiefs, adding that “they should even be made the Presiding Members of
the Assemblies”.
Prof. Ansu-Kyeremeh, who is also a lecturer at the School of
Communication aStudies the University of Ghana, said considering the
fact that the chiefs were the immediate closest entities to the people,
it was only fair that they were involved in local governance.
While expressing concern about the marginalisation of the chiefs in
development at the local level, he was of the view that there would be
more and better development at the local levels if chiefs were made to
run the affairs of the assemblies.
“I have not been consulted by the district chief executive officer or
any of the local authorities for the past 13 years on any important
issue concerning my area. We are not regarded any more”, he said.
The Paramount Chief of Anfoega Traditional Area, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV,
said Chiefs needed to actively participate in local governance and
therefore, the 30 per cent should be ceded to the chiefs.
Making a case for a Council
But a Senior Research Fellow with IDEG, Prof. Joseph Atsu Ayee, said
chiefs used to have one third representation at the district assemblies
in the past, but that was reversed due to the use of chieftaincy
disputes to interfere and meddle in the affairs of local assemblies.
He said the Local Development Advisory Council, which would be backed by
law, would be non-partisan, neutral and an impartial body mainly
comprising of chiefs and queenmothers to give chiefs the opportunity to
participate in local governance.
Instead of being part of the local assemblies where their authority
might be undermined, he said the chiefs would bring to bear their
wisdom, knowledge and experience on development, conflict resolution and
cultural modernisation while represented on the council.
Although chiefs were very influential and important in the Ghanaian
community, and their inputs in local governance would go a long to
enhance development, Prof Ayee said getting involved in the affairs of
the assemblies could taint their authority.
He further explained that the council would also include professional
bodies such as lawyers, engineers and medical doctors among others to
give their expertise on their area of work to promote development at the
local levels.
“Chiefs authority could be undermined”
However, Dr Osae, who is also the Technical Advisor to the Ministry of
Local Government and Rural Development, said chiefs were already
integral part of the governance system because they were represented on
the Council of State while the Regional Coordinating Council also made
space for them.
He said allocating the 30 per cent to the chiefs would undermine their
authority and also setting up a Local Governance Advisory Council would
also undermine the authority of the assemblies.
Therefore, he suggested that the Council of State chamber be expanded
to have a second chamber to include more chiefs and their mandate
broadened to advise the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice.
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