By Benjamin Akoto, GNA
Banda-Ahenkro (Bono), Oct. 20, GNA – Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has expressed worry about the involvement of some politicians in chieftaincy disputes, thereby, threatening national peace and social cohesion.
Describing that practice as unfortunate and unacceptable, he urged those politicians to refrain from “interfering in chieftaincy matters,” saying that was a major contributing factor fueling chieftaincy disputes.
“Distancing politics from chieftaincy affairs will reduce, if not eliminate, the persistent disputes surrounding traditional leadership,” Mr Ibrahim, also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda told the media in an interview at Banda, the constituency capital in the Bono Region.
He said: “If politicians attempt to combine political titles with chieftaincy roles, it can lead to national instability,” worrying about the growing trend of chieftaincy disputes in the country.
“A lot of chieftaincy issues have been brought to my attention,” he stated, and urged traditional authorities to refrain from “using political influences to claim chieftaincy titles”.
Mr Ibrahim said: “You may belong to a political party, and because your party is in power, you might expect the government to support your enstoolment and recognition, but it doesn’t work that way”.
He remained that chieftaincy was rooted in lineage, saying only individuals from royal families were eligible to be enstooled or enskinned as chiefs, and advised traditional authorities and kingmakers to follow tradition and allowed it to take the natural course of successions.
Mr Ibrahim said the ministry remained committed to ensuring that chieftaincy related disputes were resolved amicably by ensuring that rightful royals were always enstooled as chiefs.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Linda Asante Agyei