The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has called on the Western Regional House of Chiefs to utilise all available mechanisms to resolve the growing number of chieftaincy disputes in the region, warning that such conflicts threaten peace and hinder development efforts.
Speaking at the Western Regional Development Retreat for Chiefs and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) at Essipong on Friday, June 20, the Minister expressed deep concern about the rising number of unresolved disputes in some traditional areas.
“Development thrives in an atmosphere of peace, and where conflicts arise, it impedes the development potential of the region. I am particularly worried about the numerous chieftaincy disputes in some traditional areas in the region,” he said.
He urged the traditional leaders to resolve these issues through the judicial committees of the traditional councils and utilise the processes outlined in the Chieftaincy Act, rather than relying on the courts, which he said are costly and time-consuming.
“Our court processes are not only expensive but also require tremendous time, hence shifting the attention of Nananom from supporting the development of their respective traditional councils to protracted litigation,” he added.
Reiterating the importance of resolving these disputes, Mr. Nelson emphasised the broader benefits to the region, noting that peace among traditional authorities is essential to attract investment, promote sustainable development, and preserve the region’s cultural identity.
“We have in our midst the Supervising High Court Judge. I will soon commence an engagement with her on many issues affecting justice delivery in the region. My dream is for our Western Region to be better positioned without chieftaincy disputes, so Nananom can lead the charge backed by state support to collectively focus on revamping industries, regulating sustainable mining, advocating for greater resource allocation, and creating employment,” he stated.
He also reminded the chiefs of their role in attracting investment into the region by ensuring litigation-free lands and maintaining a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive.
“Together with you and others, we have to aggressively identify potential investors and encourage them to invest in the Western Region. This effort will require the promotion of an investor-friendly environment, such as litigation-free lands. If we indeed want to create decent jobs for our people, we need our industries back, and we can only achieve this through the concerted efforts of all of us here present,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia IV, welcomed the Minister’s call but raised concerns over the state of infrastructure, particularly the Western Railway Line.
He lamented its deteriorating condition, describing it as “the heart and soul of Ghanaian railways,” and questioned the decision to prioritise railway extensions to the Bonkra Port while neglecting the vital Western Line.
