Ghana’s President Says His Administration Will Not Meddle In Chieftancy Issues

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana has stressed that his administration is not interested in controlling the affairs of the country’s traditional rulers, and as such will not meddle in chieftaincy issues.

What is of importance to his government is that all chieftaincy issues and grievances arising from them are resolved peacefully and in good faith, to enable the government to implement its agenda for the accelerated transformation and development of the country, he adds.

President Akufo-Addo said this Thursday when the Bawku Naaba Asigri Abugrago Azorka II, President of the Bawku Traditional Area and his chiefs, called on him at the Flagstaff House office in Accra The reciprocal courtesy call was to enable the Bawku Naaba (chief) to discuss issues of national importance and that which concerns the traditional area.

President Akufo-Addo told the Bawku Naaba that although he had no interest in chieftaincy matters, he was concerned about the peace of Bawku and surrounding areas, saying: “It is very important to note that all of us will derive no benefit from conflict and instability. What we need to do is to recognise the things we have to do to make sure that the peace is maintained and developed.

“When I said that I have no interest in chieftaincy matters, I meant it. I am not a chief, I am not a royal of Bawku. I don’t have any interest in meddling in Bawku chieftaincy matters and that is what I meant by saying that my government has not come here to deal chieftaincy matters.we leave chieftaincy matters to the chiefs.”

He said it was important that all sides in the Bawku chieftaincy dispute continue to exercise restraint and comport themselves “so that peace we are seeing today in Bawku can continue,” adding: “There is a lot we can do together to develop the area and develop Ghana. Without peace we cannot do it.” He commended the Bawku Naaba for the efforts he was making to ensure that peace prevailed in the traditional area.

On a request for government to de-couple Tempane from the Garu-Tempane district, the President said the decision to create a district out of Tempane had already been taken and the process was ongoing, hinting that the Local Government Minister Alima Mahama would soon announce the formal constitution of Tempane district.Source:Pocket News