'Strengthen, equip chieftaincy'

01-30-09

THE Executive Director of the African Peacebuilding Club, Mr Salam Ramani, has appealed to the new government to strengthen and equip the chieftaincy institution to enable it to become more effective.
In addition, he said, the government should pay adequate attention to addressing the issue of chieftaincy dispute, which had tended to tarnish the image of the chieftaincy institution.
“Chiefs play an important role in local governance and, therefore, their institution should be supported and strengthened,” he told the Daily Graphic.
Mr Ramani said there was the need for the government to bring the various factions claiming to be the rightful owners of stools together and settle their differences to avoid tension.
“If we want to develop, then we should put an end to all the conflicts arising out of chieftaincy disputes,” he said.
He urged all Ghanaians to bury their differences and support the new government to deliver for the betterment of the people.
Mr Ramani congratulated all Ghanaians on the various roles they played in ensuring peaceful elections, adding that it was a period that Ghanaians proved to the rest of the world that the country was the beacon of hope for democracy in Africa.
He, however, said Ghanaians should not be complacent, but work to sustain and improve the gains that had been chalked up over the years.
“We also need to adopt certain principles that would safeguard the peace of the country,” he said, adding that such principles included the use of civil language and responsible journalism.
Mr Ramani said he was convinced that once those principles were adopted, the peace being enjoyed would be protected.
He appealed to the government to ensure that the national cake was shared equally.
He charged Members of Parliament (MPs) to support development-oriented programmes in their constituencies.