Prof. Osei Sarfo-Kantanka is calling for a national dialogue to include chiefs in local governance. 

He believes the chieftaincy system has not been fully harnessed, resulting in Ghana’s underdevelopment.  

Speaking on the Building Ghana Series programme on Luv FM, the former Kumasi Diocese Bishop of the Methodist Church-Ghana said the bifurcated system of governance in the country will not facilitate national development.

“If you look carefully, one line of authority in the country is represented by the President and the other by the traditional authority. 

“We can’t mix these two. Our constitution appears to be doing the exact same thing of mixing these two lines of authority. 

“There was an instance where the former Kumasi mayor, Kwadwo Bonsu, asked a local representative of the Asantehene what his locus was, during sod-cutting for the construction of the Kejetia market. 

“He was immediately removed for posing such questions. This tells the challenge we’re facing with this bifurcated system of governance,” he said. 

He is therefore urging chiefs across the country to call for a national discourse aimed at ensuring that they are given active roles in governance. 

“The constitution states that the chiefs can come out with a debate to codify some of these things. 

“There should be a conversation to include chiefs in some areas of governance, like the local governance,” Prof. Kantanka said. 

However, he says some traditional practices should not be incorporated in the governance system should the country reach a compromise to include chiefs in governance. 

“Modernity doesn’t mean the adoption of Western cultures and values. But, the nation must have the courage and will to do away with obsolete practices and customs which perpetuate their poverty and underdevelopment. 

“There are particularly some customs in rural areas that we can do away with. These practices fuel superstition. Example is manslaughter and slaughtering of animals to gods,” the Bishop said.