Audio By Carbonatix
The National House of Chiefs has cautioned against the politicization of a donation by president John Mahama to the institution in Kumasi, Wednesday.
Some persons including Rt. Rev. Stephen Bosomtwe Ayensu, the Methodist Bishop of Obuasi Diocese, described as "naked politics", the presentation of 13 pick-up vehicles to the National House of Chiefs by president John Mahama at a meeting with members of the House in Kumasi.
It was in fulfillment of a promise the president made to the chiefs sometime ago.
The Rev. Minister in an interview on Adom FM Thursday described it as: "a total waste of government money that is being spent by the politicians on such cheap things just to get some votes".
But a statement issued Friday and signed by President of the National House Of Chiefs, Wulugu Naba Naa Prof. John S. Nabil described such comments as uninformed.
According to the statement, the vehicles are for the Houses of Chiefs as Government (State) institutions but not for the individual chiefs as it has been misinterpreted.
"It is very unfortunate that people who are discussing this matter, imputing negative intentions into same, do not know that the Houses of Chiefs are creatures of statute and therefore need to be resourced by the Government (State) like any other Government Institution or Agency or Department. The Houses of Chiefs are Agencies under the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.
"The 1992 Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (1959) provide for the creation of the House of Chiefs. Article 270 (1) of the Constitution provides that “The institution Chieftaincy, together with its traditional councils as established by customary law and usage, is hereby guaranteed. Articles 271 and 274 of the Constitution and Sections 1 and 6 of the Chieftaincy Act 2008 (Act 759) created the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs, just like other bodies of State".
The statement urged the public to show support for the chieftaincy institution for the crucial role it plays in the development of the country, and avoid reading political meanings into efforts to resource it.
"What people do not know is that the National House of Chiefs is composed of fifty (50) members and the combined membership of the ten Regional Houses of Chiefs is over 250. It is therefore preposterous to conclude that one pick-up is given to over 300 chiefs. The cars are not for the individual chiefs. They are for the Houses of Chiefs as Government (State) institutions.
"The National House of Chiefs want to state it categorically that it is the responsibility of the Government (State) to resource the Houses as any other MDA and that is exactly what the President did during his recent meeting with Nananom. It is very unfortunate that people have twisted the position of the law to suit their own limited interest".
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