Vice Chairperson for National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Esther Oduraa Ofei -Aboagye has called for a strong partnership between traditional authorities and the local government for effective governance.

According to her, the traditional authorities are critical governance resource that a country must harness for national development.

Dr Esther Oduraa Ofei-Aboagye was speaking at the 3rd SAAA Memorial Lectures organized by the EP University College, Ho.

 She said chieftaincy is a developed institution that plays a critical role in upholding traditional morals.

 “Now chiefs are carving a new nichesfor themselves. They are doing critical things in social protection, providing scholarship for education and so on and it is important that local authorities partner them to ensure their mutual agendas are fulfilled,”she emphasized.

In his welcome address, the President of the EP University, Rev.  Dr Cyril Fayose explained the lecture was to provide a public space for intellectual discourse and engagement of societal issues.

According to him, a university should not only prepare persons for industry through teaching, learning and research but must also be a place for reflecting on societal issues for the socio-economic transformation of society.

He however advised students to take advantage of such lectures to help them on their carrier and what they want to achieve in the future.

President of the Reformed Churches, Germany, Dr Martin Heimbccher said the state must seek progress of its citizens.

The third memorial lectures was under the theme “Local Governance in the Fourth Republic”.