Naa Bohagu Mahami Abudulai, President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, has appealed to the government to increase the number of chiefs in its nominations into the district assemblies to enable them contribute more effectively to the development of their areas. He said chiefs occupy a unique position in their traditional areas that enables them to combine and perform administrative, quasi-judicial and social functions for the benefit of their communities. Naa Abudulai made the appeal when, Mr. Samson Kweku Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Nalerigu on Thursday. The Nayiri said although the functions of chiefs complement the services provided by district assemblies as agents of the central government, their representation of two out of about 45 assembly members is grossly low. "Consideration needs to be given to raising the percentage of traditional representation". He said for instance district assemblies had to rely on the assistance of chiefs for the effective performance of their functions such as revenue mobilisation and in the organisation of communal labour. Naa Abudulai said certain revenues, which in the past accrued to the chiefs, had now gone to the assemblies and this had left such chiefs in situations that do not permit them to maintain the dignity of their offices. The Nayiri said although provision is usually made in the annual estimates of district assemblies for the payment of allowances to some important chiefs; such provisions had remained on paper. ”In fact no such allowances have been paid to the chiefs concerned, including some chiefs whose areas have yielded revenue to the assemblies since 2006. This situation is a disincentive and leads to apathy", the Nayiri said. Naa Abudulai appealed to the Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture to take steps to address the manpower shortage facing traditional councils in the northern region since this is adversely affecting the discharge of their duties. Mr. Boafo commended the role chiefs have played in securing peace in the country and urged the Nayiri to continue to use his good counsel and wisdom to help bring about peace in the country. Source: GNA