The Omanhene of the Agogo traditional area is urging a stronger integration of the chieftaincy institution into the local governance system. Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong, who was a Member of Parliament in the Third Republic, spoke of chiefs as cardinal in developing a more refined democracy in Ghana. The lawyer referred to portions of the 1992 Constitution which, he said, guarantees the existence of the chieftaincy institution, adding, “The Constitution was envisaging a major role for the institution of the governance of this nation.” “Devolution at the local level should constitute the bedrock of democracy in this nation. If that does not happen, we should forget about democracy,” he said. Nana Akuoko Sarpong said these in a telephone interview on Joy FM’s News analysis programme, the Front Page. The comments of the paramount chief comes amid efforts by the Local Government Ministry to review the current local governance structure. The review kick-starts with consultative fora in the various regional capitals and is scheduled to end in Kumasi later this month. The chief lamented what he said, has been a broken link between the chiefs and elected local authorities, a situation, he indicated, results in district assemblies carrying out projects without informing traditional authorities in the locality. “These structures are not there so the consultative process between the local administration and the chieftaincy institution is completely broken,” he told host Kwaku Sakyi-Addo. But Nana Akuoko Sarpong, who is also a lawyer, explained that these have been the situation because, aside the paucity of resources, the local governance act seriously ignores the role the chiefs must play in the local governance system. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana