Chieftaincy Affairs Minister Ask Chiefs To Register Their Names

Dr. Henry Seidu Daanaa

Ghana’s Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Henry Seidu Daanaa has appealed to Chiefs and Queen mothers across the country to take the necessary steps to have their names registered in the national registry of chiefs.

According to Dr. Daanaa, having a register of all chiefs and queen mothers would ensure the effective resolution of all chieftaincy disputes and conflicts as well as distinguish between chiefs and queen mothers and those who pose as chiefs or queen mothers. 

He reiterated that, unresolved chieftaincy disputes and conflicts was a threat to the institution of chieftaincy as well as undermined its administrative effectiveness in the country. 

Dr. Daanaa made the appeal when he addressed a meeting of Registrars of the ten Regional and National Houses of Chiefs in the Northern Regional Capital, Tamale. The meeting is an annual activity where Registrars of the various houses of chiefs in the country converge to take stock of their work and forge a new way forward. 

Later in an interview with journalists, the Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs Minister also reassured the Northern Region House of Chiefs that government had not reneged on its promise to refurbish their offices.

It would be recalled that the late President John Evans Atta Mills cut a sod for the refurbishment and expansion of offices of the Northern Region House of Chiefs in 2011 but that has since not materialized after his demise in 2012. 

Wulugu Naba, Prez. National House of Chiefs

President John Dramani Mahama at a meeting with the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi sometime in July 16, 2014, also said: “I wish to assure you that provision has been made in this year's budget for the completion of the National House in order to expand it to be able to take in additional numbers. I will ensure the speedy release of these funds so that the complex can be completed.

“……I am all too aware of the unsatisfactory conditions of the office buildings of the various Houses of Chiefs and as I said budgetary allocations have been made for the expansion and rehabilitation of the National House but also additional allocations have been made for the rehabilitation of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs and the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs. Further allocation will be made for expansion and rehabilitation of the other Regional Houses.   

“Providing decent office accommodation for our Chiefs will go a long way in ensuring that satisfactory and comfortable conditions are provided for the staff working in these establishments for the efficient performance of their duties”, he said.

However, Dr. Henry Seidu Daanaa in Tamale said that the work had not been abandoned and indicated that plans were far advanced for work to commence on the building and other Regional Houses of Chiefs in the country.