Queen-Mothers to join House of Chiefs
The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs is working closely with the National House of Chiefs to facilitate a process towards the Queen-Mothers’ representation in the regional and national House of Chiefs.
Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa, sector Minister, who made this known at the “Meet the Press series” on Tuesday, said the Ministry would, accordingly, organise peace building seminars for both Queen-Mothers and chiefs as an enhancement measure.
He said by law, the word “chief” covered Queen-Mothers and not until the Queen-Mothers sat side by side with chiefs in the chieftaincy administration, traditional authority would not realise its fullest meaning.
Programmes, activities and legislative framework were being put in place to re-position the Ministry and the chieftaincy institution to perform its role effectively, he said.
He said the Ministry in conjunction with the National House of Chiefs has developed an 18-page code of Royal Ethics which would serve as a guide and a reference point to traditional rulers.
The National House of Chiefs has also converted 15 validated research reports into draft Legislative Instruments, which are before Parliament for consideration.
Dr Daannaa said the Ministry was sourcing funding from corporate bodies to undertake programmes to educate chiefs, queen-mothers and all stakeholders about the need to reform or eliminate negative traditional practices.
He, however, cited inadequate budgetary allocation, shortage of qualified staff, poor and old infrastructure at the regional levels as some of the challenges confronting the Ministry.
Source: GNA