A sociologist and chieftaincy expert at the University of Cape Coast has called for a review of the constitution to allow chiefs in the country to participate in active partisan politics. Mr Kingsley Adjei said instead of a blanket ban chiefs must be allowed under the law to declare their partisan affiliations. Reports have been rife in recent times of chiefs engaging in programmes sponsored or held by political parties. The latest has been the reported mounting of a political platform at the ruling New Patriotic Party’s mammoth rally in Kasoa by Lepo-Wura Alhaji N.M.D. Jawula, Director of the Ghana Health Service, Under the constitution, chiefs are barred from engaging in partisan politics. This means a chief who seeks a political office must abdicate his stool or skin. Clause (1) of article 276 of the 1992 constitution provides: “A chief shall not take part in active party politics; and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin.” But Mr Adjei said the constitution contradicts itself in article 55 which guarantees the right of every citizen of voting age to join or form a political party. He stated that despite the provision, chiefs openly declare their support for political parties, hence the need for the review. He advocates as best alternative an amendment of the law to make provisions for regulating the conduct of chiefs in the political arena as a need to relinquish their posts would mean violating their rights as citizens. “I can say that these contradictions are part of the national hypocrisy that we have gone through since independence,” he added. He said “now that the chiefs are expressing a pent-up desire to take part in active politics, it means that they are indirectly asking for an amendment to those provisions in the constitution.” “Even though they have not categorically stated that they want to take part in active politics, by expressing their opinion, by expressing their support, for particular political leaders it means that they themselves are aware that when you have legal rational authority, there are perquisites that go with it.” The National House of Chief however holds a contrary view. The President of the House, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio said chiefs must be politically neutral to avoid losing their credibility and respect as custodians of their land. Listen to audio attachment of Mr Kingsley Adjei's views Author: Fiifi Koomson