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Chieftaincy Act outlines guidelines
for kingmakers
Accra, Aug. 9, Ghanadot/GNA – The
new Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759), passed by Parliament
has outlined procedures and guidelines for kingmakers on the
installation, enskinment, destoolment and de-skinment of
chiefs.
With regard to installation of paramount chiefs, kingmakers
are expected to give two weeks notice to the National and
Regional Houses of chiefs before the installation or
enskinment.
For divisional chiefs, the kingmakers are to give advance
notice to the Traditional and Regional Houses of chiefs.
The kingmakers are expected to give two weeks notice to the
appropriate authorities if they want to destool or de-skin a
chief.
Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of State at the Ministry of
Chieftaincy and Culture, said this in a speech read for him
at the outdooring of Naa Dede Odame I, Atukpai Manye, in
Accra on Saturday.
Naa Odame, 54, known in private life as Madam Abigail
Ayorkor Addo-Quaye, is a Senior Editor and Head of Foreign
Desk at Ghana News Agency (GNA).
Atukpai is a prominent quarter within the Gbese Division of
Ga Traditional Area and the Atukpai Stool is the permanent
Mankralo Stool within the Gbese Divisional Area.
Mr Boafo said the Act stipulated that any aggrieved person
should give at least one week notice to the appropriate
authorities in the institution before filing an injunction
against an installation or enskinment of a chief.
He said the Act guaranteed the power of a chief or
queenmother to act as arbitrator in customary arbitration.
A section of the Act indicates that a chief is not liable to
a charge of contempt (in court proceedings) if he makes a
statement in good faith in respect of or during legitimate
customary proceedings or practices which are not in wilful
violation of a specific order of a court.
Mr Boafo expressed concern about the myriads of chieftaincy
disputes in Greater Accra Region, especially on the numerous
suits against the Ga Mantse that were dissipating resources
and energies of the top echelons of Ga Mashie Royal Houses.
“It is very distressing to read and hear various rejoinders
on the issue in the print and electronic media.”
Mr Boafo said the rich culture and the enviable traditions
of the Ga State were being degraded in the eyes of Ghanaians
and foreigners.
He said people in Ga Mashie needed only a royal from
eligible ruling house to ascend the stool, others from other
royal houses who might be eligible, should exercise patience
and rally behind the incumbent so that peace and orderly
co-existence would prevail in Ga Mashie again.
Mr Boafo urged Naa Odame to make significant contribution to
her community, Atukpai, and other areas within her
jurisdiction to reduce poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and
other social vices such as prostitution and stealing among
the youth.
On culture, Mr Boafo stressed the need for stakeholders to
re-package the country’s cultural practices and make them
attractive and desirable for consumption by foreigners,
adding “the rewards that come in their wake are immense,
very motivating and would reduce unemployment among the
youth”.
Nii Tetteh Tsuru II, Atukpai Mantse and Gbese Mankralo,
pledged to utilise the knowledge, wisdom and experience of
Naa Odame to accelerate socio-economic development in the
area.
He urged her to be steadfast in deliberations at the
traditional council meetings for progress and development.
Nii Tsuru appealed to the Electoral Commission to extend the
period for the limited registration exercise to ensure that
the milling crowds at the workstations could register.
GNA
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