The Kumasi Traditional Council is appealing to President Akufo-Addo to restore the chiefs’ power to summon people if he wants traditional leaders to support the government to succeed.
Speaking during a media encounter on New Year’s Day, the President of the Kumasi Traditional Council and Chief of Bantama, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia VI, said all government’s major initiatives will not be successful if Chiefs are not properly involved.
“He [President Akufo-Addo] should try and restore the chief’s power of summons without delay,” he urged
“If he really wants the chiefs to help him to succeed, if he wants the chiefs’ cooperation. if he wants the chiefs to be effective in their local areas, then it is very important that this power is restored.”
Amankwatia VI stressed that chiefs’ roles in ensuring security in their areas are being underestimated.
“We are the only people who can control our local areas. A military man can’t control our local area. A policeman will need our cooperation to control our local area.”
“There is information that comes to us. It never gets to anybody. We have really informants at the local area but when we get the information, what do we do with it? There is nothing we can do about it because we don’t have the power to even summon the person to come before you,” he said.
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By: Edward Oppong Marfo | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
