The Parliamentary Select Committee on Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace to seek his advice and support in addressing growing chieftaincy disputes across the country.
The Committee considers Otumfuo a key stakeholder in matters of chieftaincy, not only in Ghana but across Africa and beyond.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chairman of the Committee, Fred Kyei Asamoah, explained that the visit forms part of the committee’s oversight responsibilities and stakeholder engagements aimed at gathering inputs on issues relating to chieftaincy, culture and religion.
“We are on a working visit to engage the House of Chiefs, and it was important to meet Otumfuo for him to better understand our mandate as a committee,” he stated.
The Chairman noted that chiefs played vital governance roles long before the introduction of modern democratic systems, adding that the 1992 Constitution also recognises and assigns important responsibilities to traditional leaders.
He said the committee was particularly encouraged by some of the concerns raised by the Asantehene, especially on the need to prevent partisan politics from interfering in chieftaincy matters.
“As a committee, we are impressed by the concerns raised by Otumfuo regarding the need to align chieftaincy with national development while preventing partisan politics from influencing the institution. Chieftaincy, culture, and religion all go hand in hand in promoting peace and national unity,” he stated.
Dr. Kyei Asamoah also expressed concern about the level of government expenditure used in resolving chieftaincy conflicts and their aftermaths, particularly through security interventions.
According to him, part of the resources spent on conflict resolution could instead be redirected to institutions such as the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs to strengthen their capacity in resolving disputes before they escalate.
Some members of the committee also urged traditional leaders to refrain from active partisan politics in order to safeguard peace, fairness, and national development.
The Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South West, Elvis Dapaah, called on chiefs to ensure fairness, transparency, and neutrality in the discharge of their traditional responsibilities.
“At the point where a chief openly takes a political position, there is always the possibility of biased judgment. I therefore urge all chiefs to remain united and stay away from partisan politics in order to promote peace and development,” he said.
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