Chiefs in the newly inaugurated Buipe Traditional Council in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region have assured the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ebenezer Kojo Kum and residents of Buipe of their unbiased arbitration and settlement of cases brought before it in line with the Law.

The President of the Buipe Traditional Council, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II, who gave the assurance during the inaugural ceremony in Buipe noted that, the establishment of the Council will, "add to our responsibilities of settling cases in a more formal manner and in line with the Law.

"I, therefore, entreat Chiefs who will be Members of the Council to seek more knowledge in the quest of providing judicial responsibilities on behalf of the Council", Buipewura Jinapor II stated.

According to the Paramount Chief, having a Traditional Council doesn't separate it from the Gonja Traditional Council, hence the need for all traditional councils (four) in the Kingdom to remain loyal to the Mother Gonja Traditional Council which Yagbonwura Sulemana Tuntumba Bore Essa I, is the President.

"My dear people, the Ministry has done its part and the rest is now for us to work hard to protect and preserve the Council to maintain its traditional role of peacebuilding, justice delivery, chieftaincy - conflict resolutions and effective decision-making to prepare the development agenda of the traditional area," Buipewura Jinapor II stated.

The Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ebenezer Kojo Kum said the government of Nana Akufo- Addo attaches prominence to the administration of Chieftaincy in the country.

The Minister who said this in a speech read for him by the acting Chief Director of the Ministry, Kananpewurche Fati Lily Soale, added that the roles of Chieftaincy institutions in maintaining peace and ensuring development at the grassroots levels cannot be underrated.

He said as part of that, "the Ministry as mandated, is to develop an interface between government, traditional authorities, religious bodies and civil society on matters relating to chieftaincy affairs for the promotion of peace and good governance", the Minister indicated.

He, therefore, appealed to Chiefs to embrace more development-oriented roles by protecting the fragile environment and fighting poverty in their respective areas adding, "the past roles of Chiefs, including leading their people to wars, to defend, protect and extend territories, currently, Chiefs are required to lead the war against environmental degradation, poverty reduction among others aim at achieving some level of development at the local and National levels", he insisted.

He said that the new role of Chiefs imposes the need for some adaptation or revision and training to enable Chiefs to fulfill their responsibilities.

"There's also the need as Chiefs, to understand the procedures and processes involved in resolving conflicts through the judicial and arbitration system and other alternative methods in resolving conflicts that may arise within their Traditional areas or localities".

Mr Kum later encouraged the Chiefs to understand and know the Act covering the Chieftaincy institution with the prime one being the Chieftaincy Act, 2008, Act 759 which calls for the creation of a Traditional Council within each traditional area.

The Buipe Traditional Council is among three Councils that were inaugurated by the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Kananpewurche Fati Lily Soale on behalf of her sector Minister.

They include; Buipe, Waispe, Busunu and Bole with Kpembe's waiting to be inaugurated.

The Magistrate of the Bole Magistrate Court, His Lordship Edward Essel took members through the oaths (membership, Secrecy and Judicial) and swearing-in.

The Kpembe Traditional Council when inaugurated, will bring the number of Councils in the Kingdom to four and with more traditional areas to come on board.