Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has stressed that ministers of state should not interfere in disputes involving traditional authorities.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 27, Mr Ayariga said chieftaincy matters are regulated by constitutional and legal frameworks that assign specific responsibilities to traditional institutions and the state.
He explained that the role of a minister is to support and strengthen the chieftaincy institution rather than get directly involved in individual disputes.
“It is not the business of a minister to meddle in chieftaincy matters,” he told the Committee.
Mr Ayariga pointed to the National House of Chiefs, Regional Houses of Chiefs and Traditional Councils as the institutions with established mandates to handle chieftaincy-related issues.
He further noted that where disputes progress through the legal system, the courts, including the Supreme Court, have the authority to determine them.
“As minister you have no job in meddling in Chieftaincy matters and that is how I will approach the work,” he said.
He assured the Committee that, if approved, he would respect the independence and constitutional responsibilities of traditional institutions and avoid inappropriate government intervention in chieftaincy disputes.
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