The Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa has appealed to the office of the President of the ruling NDC to release more funds to the ministry for its activitiesand projects earmarked for development.
The Chieftaincy Minister highlighted the major challenges of the Ministry and at the various Houses of Chiefs.
He noted that these challenges continue to militate against the implementation of the policies and programmes of the Ministry.
‘Indeed, our major challenge is inadequate budgetary allocation to the Ministry and the delayed releases of our funds,’ the Minister stated.
According to the sector minister, inadequate staffing is one challenge the Ministry continues to grapple with at the regional and traditional council levels.
Another problem has to do with the state of our infrastructure, the office building is rather old and dilapidated and almost all the structures need complete renovation.
The Chieftaincy Minister said this when he took his turn at the Meet-The-Press series in Accra held at the communication ministry, formerly ministry of Information and media relations.
The Ministry needs adequate financial resources to implement the following actitvities:
1. Sensitization workshops/programmes on the role of chiefs in land management. This is to promote sustainable environment,land and water management.
2. Seminars/workshops for Chiefs and Queenmothers on the Alternative Livelihood programmes in areas affected by galamsey and illegal mining. These will be partnership programmes between our Ministry and the Ministries of Land and Natural Resources, Environment Science, Technology and Innovation.
3. Capacity building programmes to enhance staff development.
4. Workshops for Queenmothers and Traditional Authorities on peace building, conflict resolution and the promotion of gender issues.
5. Research project on Elimination of Harmful Traditional Practices.
6. To intensify the recruitment or replacement and training of staff at the Traditional Council levels.
7. On infrastructural development, the Ministry will continue to source funds for the renovation of Regional Houses of Chiefs and the completion of the office complex for the National House of Chiefs.
8. Continuation of the Codification of Lines of Succession to stools and skins in traditional areas.
9. Publication of the next edition of the Chieftaincy Bulletin by the National House of Chiefs.
10. International Partnership programmes: The Ministry will continue to organize Chieftaincy and Traditional exchange programmes to showcase Ghana’s rich culture and tradition and also build effective international relations partnership.
Chieftaincy Disputes (Adjudication and Research)
The sector minister told the press that as at March last year (2013), the following House of Chiefs were without Counsel to assist the Judicial Committees in their work: Western, Upper West, Upper East, B/A, Northern, and National.
According to him, the effect of this was that chieftaincy cases which were brought to these Houses for hearing could not be heard.
As a result of steps taken by the Ministry, all above mentioned Houses of Chiefs now have Counsels to assist in the disposal of chieftaincy cases thereby, making the wheel of justice role faster and faster.
Accordingly therefore, the Ministry has, during the period under review, has acquired personnel to strengthen the chieftaincy research unit.
This included fifteen (15) Chieftaincy Research Personnel, the highest they ever had in the history of chieftaincy administration in Ghana.
Apart from research work done to establish facts about chieftaincy succession or otherwise, for the National House of Chiefs Research Committee, the Chieftaincy Research Unit of the Ministry also carry out investigations about chieftaincy issues and, in this way, is able to present fuller and adequate picturesque when it comes to advising relevant authorities with respect to the prevention and resolution of chieftaincy conflicts in the country.
Elimination of Harmful Traditional Practices
According Hon. Seidu Daannaa, the Ministry in collaboration with the National House of Chiefs and with financial support from USAID Ghana jointly launched the project on the Elimination of Harmful Traditional Customary Practices which are harmful and violates the Human Rights of the individuals.
The project was launched on the 18th of June , 2014 in Tamale and the main focus of the project will be held on the witches’ camps.
The Minister expected that the project will minimize the intake of alleged witches and prevent the establishment of new camps.
‘The project is to give meaning to the ratification of the United Nations (UN) convention on Human Right of which Ghana is a signatory,’ he said.
The Minister also added that an interactive website to promote interactive communication between the Ministry and other stakeholders, like the media, and indeed, the general public, the Ministry, at the beginning of the year, established an interactive website.
Information on the site can be accessed on www.mcta.gov.gh.
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