The Volta region supervising High Court Judge, Justice A.K. Abada, has admonished kingmakers to insulate the chieftaincy institution from political interference to that the right heirs ascend to the stool and skins to avoid conflicts and strife.

He said that political interference had resulted in a series of chieftaincy disputes impoverishing the people.

Mr. Justice Abada made the admonishment at Ho, on Friday at the introduction and swearing -in ceremony of Osie Adja Tekpor VII, paramount chief of Avatime Traditional Area, as a member of the Regional House of Chiefs at its general meeting.

Osie Adja Tekpor swore the oath of membership and the Judicial Oath. Mr. Justice Abada noted that “matters pertaining to facts, competence and the right choice must ascend stools to reduce the spate of disputes in the law court s and judicial committees of Houses of Chiefs.” He expressed concern about the spate of disputes pending before the court and cautioned that it is not the duty of the courts to pronounce who is and who is not a chief but the judicial committees.

Mr. Justice Abada advised members of traditional councils and the judicial committee to be firm and fair in their decisions and must be guided by the traditional processes.

He called on committees “to build solid foundations for their chiefs so as to accelerate the development of their areas devoid of acrimony and other negative tendencies that tend to distract the development agenda”.

Togbe Afede XIV, the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, urged the house to sustain the peace, unity and harmony prevailing within the House and communities.

He stressed that without the promotion of peace, unity and harmony, the development agenda of traditional areas would be stalled resulting in abject poverty.

Togbe Afede who is the Agbogbomefia of Ho-Asogli traditional area observed that belonging to traditional councils does hot make the person subservient to that council.

He lauded the efforts of the chiefs, queen mothers, kingmakers and people of Avatime for a peaceful installation and advised them to support and assist him to promote his development agenda.

Osie Adja Tekpor said the opportunity given him would be used to serve his people.

Tokgbe Adja Tekpor was hopeful that with the strengthening of the Research Committee of the House as envisaged by the President of the House, the chieftaincy institution would be revered through religion and political institutions.

 *Source:   

The Ghanaian Times            Page: 19        Tuesday, December 22, 2009