The National Secretary of the Ghana Bar Association, Yaw Acheampong Boafo, is advocating for amendments to be made in use of the District Assembly Common Fund to enable chiefs have a reliable source of funds to pursue development projects.
This call comes at the back of mounting concerns on how traditional authorities can meaningfully contribute to the development of their towns and communities.
It is against this background that Mr. Boafo noted that despite chiefs being recognised by the constitution of Ghana, they are not resourced and mandated by law to embark on development projects for their communities.
This is notwithstanding the resources that are found within the jurisdiction of traditional authorities which are entrusted to the state.
But given the political complexities of the specified mandates of political rule, he posited that chiefs are far better-placed to pursue and bring lasting development to their people.
It is because of this that Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo, who was contributing to a panel discussion, at the back of the 6th Opemsuo Lectures organised by the Asante Professional Club (APC), called for funds to be made available for chiefs.
He opined that this will further strengthen the role of traditional authorities in modern democratic governance.
The Secretary General of the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh – who was also on the panel, posited that the traditional system which enabled Nana Yaa Asantewaa to have a say in the traditional affairs of Asanteman, in the olden days, still exists.
“This is despite many years of colonial influence, with Asanteman remaining among the few ethnic groups that have been able to preserve their traditions,” she noted.
She therefore maintained that the status of women in the traditional hierarchical setup empowers them to contribute equally to shaping community development.
The panel of experts, which also included the Chief Executive Officer of the International Maritime Hospital – Dr. Akwasi Achampong, reaffirmed the traditional system of governance’s relevance in shaping the course of modern democratic rule many decades after colonisation.
It was recognised that despite the dominance of the modern form of governance that succeeded colonial rule, the role of chiefs who serve as traditional leaders of communities cannot be understated.
The keynote address of the 6th Opemsuo Lectures was on the topic ‘Is the Golden Stool Still Potent in Asanteman’s Contemporary Governance Setting? Assessing the Origins of the Asante Nation and the Genealogical Structure of the Kings and Queen Mothers (between the 17th – 21st centuries)’.
The lecture is an annual lecture event organised by APC, and falls in line with its strategic objective of promoting and developing arts and culture.
The event seeks to create a unique platform for professionals and traditional rulers to deliberate on Asante’s development and culture.
Otumfuo’s Akomforehene, Oheneba Akwasi Abayie – who is the son of Asantehene Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II (who reigned as Asantehene from 1931 – 1970) – delivered the keynote address at the ceremony.
