Legal Counsels from Ghana’s National and Regional Houses of Chiefs have been tasked with expediting the resolution of chieftaincy disputes to promote peace and development across the country.
This call was made during a two-day capacity-building training held at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Accra.
The programme, attended by 16 legal counsels from all regions, was designed to enhance the role of traditional authorities in managing and settling chieftaincy conflicts that continue to stall progress in many communities.
Addressing participants, the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, stressed the importance of resolving chieftaincy disputes quickly to prevent instability and foster socio-economic growth.
“As I speak to you, starting from the chiefs, the President has approved an increment in their economic conditions of service. By the third quarter of this year, those improved conditions will be implemented,” the Minister announced.
He emphasised that chieftaincy conflicts have far-reaching implications for national stability and development. “If we know nothing at all, we know the cost of instability. We know the cost of chieftaincy disputes. We know the cost of organising RESECs and DISECs to manage these conflicts. It is high time we addressed them decisively.”
Justice Amadu Tanko, Director of the Judicial Training Institute, echoed the concerns, urging the legal counsels to adopt alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms to clear the backlog of cases, especially those pending at the Supreme Court.
“I would like the Honourable Minister to take this seriously. Without prejudice to pending matters, Accra is definitely a flashpoint. I’m aware there’s a case in the Supreme Court either next week or the week after. Why has the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs not been able to determine that dispute? It is shocking,” Justice Tanko queried.
He urged the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to decide conclusively on long-standing cases instead of handling them in piecemeal fashion.
Responding on behalf of the legal counsels, Alex Obeng Asante, Legal Advisor to the National House of Chiefs, assured the public that they are committed to resolving chieftaincy disputes as part of their professional duties.
“We are at post. We are public service lawyers. We are working. We get paid with taxpayers’ money, so we cannot say we are not working. We are. You bring your case, the panel is assembled, and we hear you,” he stated.
Chieftaincy disputes continue to pose a major challenge to local governance, development, and social cohesion in parts of Ghana. The training aimed to equip the legal representatives with modern tools and strategies to help break this cycle of conflict and advance community development.
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