A political analyst who doubles as a financial engineer Alex Emmanuel has called on the country’s Legislature to repeal laws in the constitution that bar Chiefs from actively engaging in party politics.
He said Chiefs played active roles in the governance process and indicated that traditional authority proved so useful in the colonial policy of indirect rule.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s morning show NKOSUONSEM hosted by Obidehye Kofi Sekye, Mr. Nti mentioned that, in 1883, the Gold Coast Native Jurisdiction Ordinance recognized local Chiefs and their courts and thereby further incorporated chiefs into the British colonial administration.
“But article 276 1 & 2 states: ‘a chief shall not take part in active party politics, and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin.”
Mr Nti said his proposition was further justified by the light of the comparative failure of the African state to bring about democracy and development, and because the state has been undermined by greedy and violent political elites within and without Africa, chieftaincy has re-emerged as an important vehicle for more or less authentic indigenous political expression and to a large extent, a better institution for democratic governance through its active involvement in politics, especially in Ghana and the rest of Africa.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has urged traditional rulers in the country not to be silent when it comes to conversations that bother politics.
The Speaker explained that this is one way these chiefs can contribute their part to the growth and development of the country.
Speaking at a ceremony in his honor, where he was enstooled as Nana Adasuoko I, by the Suma Traditional Council, at Suma-Ahenkro in the Bono Region of Ghana, he stressed the need for the voices of chiefs to be heard in these discourses.
“As we are at the threshold of an election year, I will encourage Nananom not to remain quiet when it comes to the political conversations that are critical to our democratic development, and our peace and security.
“We must all help to shape the political discourse of this country to ensure that it feeds into the hopes and aspirations of our people,” he said.
The enstoolment of Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin also commemorated the 2023 Annual Suma Royal Retreat and Crusade of the Traditional and Local Councils of Churches.
According to the Paramount Chief and President of the Suma Traditional Area, Odeneho Dr. Affram Brempong lall Bagbin was so honored for his sterling leadership and advocacy for the preservation of culture, values, traditions, and customs of the people of Ghana, the report added.
Alban Bagbin is now therefore also known as Nana Adasuoko l of the Suma Traditional Area.
Discussion about this post