Brong Ahafo records high chieftaincy disputes

Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture has noted that Brong Ahafo Region has disposed of only 10 out of 55 chieftaincy cases.

This makes the region the highest chieftaincy endemic area as at 31 May.

Mr Asum-Ahensah who was answering a question at the floor of Parliament said Central Region is next with 31 cases pending with three disposed of.

Greater Accra had disposed of one out of 27 cases, Ashanti Region with 26 cases had disposed of nine whilst the Eastern Region had settled three out of 11 cases.

Mr Asum-Ahensah noted that Upper West has 10 chieftaincy cases pending with one disposed of, Western Region nine with three arbitrated.

He said two of the three remaining regions, namely Northern and Upper East regions have not been able to dispose of any of their cases due to the lack of  counsels.

Northern Region has 10 chieftaincy cases pending and Upper East Region, one.

He explained that in the Volta region, even though a counsel has been at post since 2008, the House has not been able to dispose of any of the cases started by the Judicial Committee because they are been contested in court.

Mr Asum-Ahensah admitted that the lack of adequate resources is a hindrance to the effective operations of the judicial committees of the various regional houses of chiefs.

He said the Ministry is liaising with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to ensure that the regional co-ordinating councils assist the regional houses of chiefs to reverse the situation.

Mr Asum-Ahensah noted that there is a limit to what the Ministry could do when it comes to deciding who is a chief.

He said the relevant law regarding the non-interference of government in chieftaincy matters is Article 270 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.

Source: GNA