NATIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS CONDEMNS GA STOOL CRISIS

From Kwadwo B’ Donkor, Kumasi

The National House of Chiefs (NHC) has condemned the recent developments in the Ga State, saying it has given “a bad image to the chieftaincy institution.”

It described the chieftaincy crisis in the Ga State as “unacceptable,” particularly when the case against King Tackie Tawiah III “has reached an advanced stage”.

The House urged the chiefs within the Ga traditional area such as La, Tema, Nungua, James Town, Ngleshie Alata, Osu and Teshie, to help ensure peace and allow the law to take its course.

It said most of the chieftaincy disputes including that of the Ga state could have been averted if the government had provided the House with the needed funding to complete its exercise on the compilation , and subsequent codification of the customary laws and lines of succession applicable to each stool and skin as mandated by the 1992 constitution.

Addressing the second general meeting of the House here yesterday, the president of the NHC, Prof. John S. Nabila noted that if that was done, “genealogical houses or gates for various skins and stools, the right customary kingmakers should no longer be in dispute and this is the only way we can rid the institution of people who are not qualified to be chiefs”.

So far, he said “the House has only been able to complete the compilation of the lines of succession in a few paramountcies with funding from Konrad Adeneaur Stiftung”.

Prof. Nabila, who is also known traditionally as Wulungu Naba Pugansoa Naa, appealed to the various contestants, kingmakers, chieftaincy houses or gates, wulomei, queen mothers and all stakeholders within the Ga State, “to take a strong and meaningful decision to put a stop to the chaos affecting the institution of chieftaincy in the Ga traditional area”.

“As a matter of fact, as chiefs and community leaders, we should rather work hand-in-hand with the law enforcement agencies instead of sowing seeds of discord and disunity which can lead to break down of law and order,” he admonished.

He said chieftaincy as a much cherished institution in Ghana, a great deal was expected from chiefs, stressing that this is one of the reasons why the National House of Chiefs has encouraged the setting up of the mediation committees at the Regional Houses of Chiefs and Traditional Councils to address problems of chieftaincy disputes rather than resorting to the law courts”.

Prof. Nablia also urged the public, particularly, politicians to tone down on the use of indecent and intemperate language within the media landscape.

He said as the nation progressed towards the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, there was the need to desist from such negative tendencies.

“We are all Ghanaians, and let us see ourselves as one family and not enemies due to our political differences,” he added.

*Source:

                   The Ghanaian Times                    Page:4             Thursday, June 30, 2011