Chiefs must be directly involved in District Assemblies -Togbe Kporku

Togbe Kporku 111, Dufia of Alakple, has called for the restructuring of District Assemblies for traditional authorities to have more leverage at the local governance level.

He said chiefs should be actively involved in the Assemblies not only as government appointees but also as custodians of the land.

Togbe Kporku made the call in a lecture he delivered on the theme “Agbogbomefia and the Re-definition of Traditional Leadership” in Ho.

He said traditional institutions still provided leadership roles in “galvanizing and mobilizing” people for community development and maintaining law and order.

“Our traditional institutions still provide the first point of contact between their people and government and have the ability to psyche up their communities for positive responses to plans or policies of government,” Togbe Kporku said.

He said it was unfortunate that in some communities Assembly Members had elevated themselves to “absurd positions” and have therefore not only become antagonistic and have appeared in competition with chiefs instead of playing complementary roles.

Togbe Kporku said the situation accounted for the slow pace of development in communities across the country and appealed to the government and the political system to restore “respect and power” to chiefs so that they could function effectively.

Source: GNA