Tema-Ghana, Aug. 24, GNA – The GaDangme Council has called on kingmakers in the Greater Accra Region to strictly operate within the provisions of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) in the enstoolment and destoolment of chiefs.
Mr Ayaa Kojo Armah, the First Vice President of the GaDangme Council, who gave the advice, said the region was bedevilled with chieftaincy disputes and misunderstandings due to the inability of kingmakers to follow due process within laid-down structures.
He said this during the inauguration of a 13-member Kpeshimaꬼ Advisory Board by the Tema Traditional Council (TTC) to advice the Council in the performance of its functions.
He said the Chieftaincy Act had put in place various sections touching on the relevant issues in the chieftaincy sector, as well as those who qualified to be part of the national and regional houses of chiefs and the various traditional councils.
He reminded them that to be recognised as a chief, one must belong to a royal family, and the entire family must agree that he was the rightful person to be enstooled.
After the traditional rites, the person must have his name in the National Register of Chiefs, and published in the chieftaincy bulletin and gazetted.
He advised traditional councils to consider constituting a research committee to ensure the qualified people were selected whenever the need arose.
Mr Armarh urged all traditional councils in the Greater Accra Region to consider the formation of an advisory board, made up of prominent people from the respective areas, to provide guidance to bring some sanity to the chieftaincy institution.
He encouraged them to make use of the Legal Committee of the GaDangme Council for free legal guidance whenever needed, especially concerning the Chieftaincy Act and other related laws.
