The National Women’s organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Desooso has said it was necessary for the people of Ghana to respect the chieftaincy institution and what it represents.

“The chiefs are a representation of the people in various regions in the country and are instituted by a constitutional instrument, it is important for us to accord them the necessary respect”.

She was speaking on Adom FM's 'Dwaso Nsem' in connection with President John Mahama’s presentation of pick-up vehicles to the National House of Chiefs on July 16.

President John Dramani Mahama in fulfilment of a promise made last year to the chiefs presented 13 four-wheel drive pickup vehicles to the chiefs.

Each of the 10 Regional Houses of Chiefs is entitled to one vehicle, one for the National House of Chiefs and two for the Chieftaincy Secretariat in Accra and are expected to help the chiefs in the discharge of their duties.

But the President’s gesture seems to have angered a cross section of Ghanaians with many questioning the priorities of the Mahama-led administration.

Head of Political Science Department at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Richard Amoako Baah also described it as “a misplaced priority”.

However, Madam De Sooso has said giving respect to these chiefs would be beneficial to all Ghanaians and kicked against the bad mouthing some politicians are doing in respect to the presentation.

She noted the presentation was a way to support and improve the works for which the chiefs have been instituted.

She was quick to add that the chiefs must ensure that whatever use the vehicles are put to must be beneficial to their various communities citing the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Togbe Afede XIV as examples.

She said this is the time the country has to come together and support government in achieving the better Ghana agenda.