The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Sampson Kwaku Boafo, has urged the media to cross-check their information on chieftaincy issues in order to avoid misleading the public. He was commissioning the offices of Roses Investment Limited, a chieftaincy consultancy firm at Tema, the first of its kind in the country. Mr Boafo cautioned the media to be circumspect in their reportage on chieftaincy-related issues. "Some journalists misrepresent chieftaincy issues which confuse the public and thus thwart efforts of stakeholders to resolve disputes," he said. For example, he said the Bawku conflict is not a chieftaincy dispute but it has been presented as such by sections of the media. He said the Bawku conflict is a land issue and the protagonists are the Mamprusis and Kusasis. He said rather than fan conflicts, the media must give suggestions to improve the chieftaincy institution. He called on the youth not to copy foreign cultures blindly but rather promote the country’s cultural values to reflect the true Ghanaian identity. Mr Boafo advised kingmakers also to be wary of people who pay money to enable them to occupy stools they have as right to. This, he said, undermines the sanctity of the institution. Executive Director of Roses Investments, Harry Anthony Attipoe, said chieftaincy disputes and conflicts have in recent times increased and put pressure on government’s resources in its bid to restore peace. It is to help resolve this that his company was born to offer general consultancy services on customary practices and usages, mediation of chieftaincy cases using the Alternative Dispute Resolution System and organising seminars and workshops for chiefs, queen mothers and kingmakers among other stakeholders. He hoped that with the commissioning of the consultancy, chieftaincy disputes, and conflicts will be minimised. Source: The Ghanaian Times