Chieftaincy Institution lacks requisite staff- Minister

Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa
Sunyani, June 26, GNA - Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa, Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs has noted that inadequate and inefficient staff,  is the major challenges facing the administration of chieftaincy.

 
'Inadequate and inefficient staff are the most serious problems which must be addressed if the administration of chieftaincy is to improve,' he stressed.

 
Dr Daannaa made the observation when addressing the general meeting of Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in Sunyani.

 
He said the Ministry had therefore, begun compiling list of vacancies within the institution to make the necessary replacements.

 
The Sector Minister said the chieftaincy institution is the bedrock of the Ghanaian culture and heritage, and requires the best administrative practices to make it effective and efficient.

 
Dr Daannaa pledged government's determination to endeavour to equip the regional houses of chiefs and traditional councils to strengthen the administration of chieftaincy.

 
He announced that two training workshops have been scheduled for the year for senior and junior staffs, registrars, bailiffs, court clerks and researchers to overcome the challenges.

 
Dr Daannaa said the urgency of the training could not be over-emphasised because since 1996 there had not been any elaborate programme of training for personnel.

 
'The objective is to improve the performance of the staff by deepening and sharpening their knowledge on the Chieftaincy Act and the Chieftaincy practice in general, 'he added.

 
Dr Daannaa said the Ministry is ready to re-submit to Parliament, the Legislative Instrument (LI) on the members of regional houses of chiefs, which could not mature into law before the end of the previous Parliament.

 
'A meeting is being arranged between the Parliamentary Committee on Subsidiary Legislation and a delegation from the Ministry including some chiefs on July 8,... for the draft LI to be properly laid before Parliament. '

 
In addition, 16 draft LIs on Lines of Succession to Stools/Skins would also be laid before Parliament by the Ministry.

 
Dr Daannaa expressed optimism that traditional authorities would continue to discharge their constitutional mandate of adjudicating on chieftaincy disputes as well as serving as repository of tradition and wisdom.

 
Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso briefed the House on completed and on-going developmental projects in the Municipal and District Assemblies in the Region.

These included education, water and sanitation, rural electrification, the Bui Hydro Power Project, road networks, agriculture and health.

 
Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese V, Paramount Chief of Yeji and President of the House expressed regret that the House as well as the Traditional and Divisional Councils are  'seriously understaffed'.

 
He said some staff of the traditional councils had retired, resigned or are dead and are yet to be replaced.

 
Pemampem Kagbrese said currently the average staff for every traditional council in the Region is two instead of six while there are some traditional councils without permanent staff.

 
He said some traditional councils are  being administered by either bailiffs or typists who in most cases lack the requisite capacity to perform their assignments.

 
'This practice has affected the effective and efficient service delivery of the Chieftaincy institution in the Region,' he added.

 
GNA