By Edward Dankwah
Accra, July 19, GNA – Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), has appealed to the Legal Counsel of the Judicial Committees of the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs to sit timeously on cases to minimise chieftaincy cases in Ghana.
He said Ghana was currently grappling with over 500 chieftaincy cases, such that delayed adjudications often exacerbated disagreements within communities, hence the need for swift actions.
The Minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day training workshop for the Legal Counsel of the Judicial Committees of the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) in Accra.
The training workshop which was organised by the MLGCRA together with the Judicial Training Institute sought to build capacities of the Legal Counsel of the Judicial Committees of the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs.
Mr. Ibrahim said the workshop would also provide the legal counsel with the skills and knowledge to undertake their work and enhance their skills in chieftaincy litigation, judicial review, application of chieftaincy procedure rules,1972 (CI 27), judgement writing, appeal and enforcement of Judgement.
He said the chieftaincy institution was the bedrock of the traditional governance system, responsible for maintaining peace, preserving and promoting the cultural practices of the country, and effective management of the communal lands and natural resources.
The Minister said the role of Counsels was very crucial for the institution, as they were the guardians for the legal framework that governed the institution, hence their duty to ensure that disputes were resolved fairly, and customary laws were upheld.
“It is also your duty to ensure that there is integrity and transparency in the adjudication of cases at the Judicial Committee level,” he added.
Mr. Ibrahim said the Government recognised the importance of the chieftaincy institution and was committed to providing the necessary support needed by the Houses of Chiefs, assuring the legal counsel who are yet to be paid that steps had been taken to that effect.
He said on the issue of disparities in condition of service among the Counsels, and other legal classes, they would be invited to another workshop to discuss a scheme of service.
The Minister said the Ministry had also started capacity training workshops for newly inaugurated Traditional Counsel members, where the first training was done for the Teshie Traditional Counsel.
“We are committed to providing continuous capacity building for chiefs and staff of the institution,” he stressed.
He said Government had identified low allowances paid to Paramount Chiefs and Queen mothers as an issue affecting the morale of chiefs, hence the Government had taken steps to enhance the allowances paid to Paramount Chiefs.
Mr. Ibrahim added that by next quarter, the Chiefs and Queen mothers would receive allowances that were substantial to meet the current economic conditions.
His Lordship Justice Amadu Tanko, the Director, Judicial Training Institute called on the legal Counsel to uphold integrity, fairness, and the public interest in the discharge of their duties.
He urged the Counsels to fully appreciate the critical roles they played in shaping peaceful outcomes in traditional leadership conflicts, reminding them that their responsibility extended beyond private clients to the broader interests of society.
His Lordship Tanko cautioned against allowing monetary influence to sway legal judgment, noting that such compromised weaken justice and community trust.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade