By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Anyako (V/R), June 26, GNA- The Amugo-Vego Traditional Area, in the Keta Municipal of the Volta Region, has held a judicial capacity building workshop for chiefs and traditional leaders in the area.
The aim of the workshop was to equip chiefs within the jurisdiction with legal knowledge on chieftaincy laws, governance duties, and administrative requirements for exercising chiefly authority in the area.
Mr Ikililu Mohammed, the Registrar, during the workshop held at Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui’s Palace at Anyako, brought together paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, sub-chiefs, queen mothers, and other traditional leaders from communities under the Amugo-Vego Traditional Area.
“The workshop is designed to bridge knowledge gaps in chieftaincy law and strengthen the capacity of rulers to operate lawfully with constitutional backings,” he said.
He explained the key focus on gazette of chiefs and stressed that a chief, who were not gazetted by Government of Ghana would not be recognised as a legitimate traditional ruler for official functions at national and regional administrative levels.
He emphasised that an ungazetted chief may exercise customary authority within his or her community, but is legally barred from performing official administrative roles, signing official documents, or representing the traditional area where state recognition is required.
Mr Mohammed, urged the participating chiefs to understand that gazette serves as the legal bridge between customary installation by the community and formal recognition by the Republic of Ghana and without it, a chief remains invisible to state machinery and cannot be listed in the National Register of Chiefs maintained by the National House of Chiefs.
He stated that the workshop was further used to clarified that ungazetted chiefs cannot sit on judicial committees of Houses of Chiefs, cannot adjudicate chieftaincy disputes before constitutionally recognised bodies, and cannot exercise administrative authority beyond customary practice in their immediate communities.
“The limitations often lead to legal complications and conflicts that could be avoided through timely compliance with the gazette process.”
He emphasised that all chiefs were walked through the step-by-step gazette process, which include proper documentation of customary installation, endorsement and submission through District and Regional Houses of Chiefs, and final publication in the Ghana Gazette.
Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, Dufia of Anyako-Konu and the Paramount Chief of Amugo-Vego Traditional Area, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, expressed gratitude about the training while some chiefs admitted that they previously had little understanding of the distinction between customary recognition and formal state recognition and the clarifications opened their eyes to new obligations.
Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui who is also the Head of Bate Clan, described the initiative as long overdue as the ignorance of the law had caused avoidable chieftaincy disputes and administrative complications, among some chiefs and that legal education is an investment in peace, stability, and grassroots governance.
He urged other traditional areas in the region to emulate the example and called on chiefs to begin gazette, if they have not done so.
The chiefs also pledged to sensitise community members on the importance of gazette as a foundation for transparent, accountable, and legally sound traditional governance within the Amugo-Vego Traditional Area.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba