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The renovated headquarters of the National House of Chiefs
The National House of Chiefs (NHC) has expanded its secretariat to allow it to accommodate more members in the house.
With an increase in the number of regions from 10 to 16, the number of House members is expected to see a corresponding increase from 50 to 80.
In light of this, the NHC undertook a major renovation and expansion of its headquarters building in Kumasi.
The Minister of Headquarters and Religious Affairs, Mr. Samuel Kofi Hiave Dzamesi, who inaugurated the reformed secretariat yesterday, said that the institution of headship is noble and must receive the recognition necessary to perform its role effectively.
Present at the ceremony were Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and NHC President Togbe Afede XIV.
Roles
The Asantehene said the chiefdom was a formidable institution that could be used to support national cohesion and development.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II being helped cut the ribbon to inaugurate the renovated building
He said that part of the role of traditional leaders was also to put the government on alert, but noted that in recent times, it seemed that their position had been assumed by civil society organizations (CSOs), so the institution of the leadership it looks like a “toothless bulldog”.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu further expressed concern that the bosses had relegated their authority and relevance to the lowest ebb by allowing politicians to dictate to serve their interests.
The Asantehene, therefore, urged the bosses to be independent in their decisions and also to stay away from influential politicians and instead offer advice and suggestions that would ensure peace and accelerated development.
He congratulated Togbe Afede XIV for her efforts to ensure the completion of the project.
Tribute
Togbe Afede XIV, who is also the Asogli State Agbogbomefia, paid tribute to the late Otumfuo Osei-Agyeman Prempeh 11, a former Asantehene, for donating the building that houses the NHC secretariat.
He also expressed his appreciation to the current Asantehene for his encouragement and support that led to the timely completion of the renovation works.
Togbe Afede XIV also praised his predecessor, Professor JS Nabilla (Wulugu Naba), under whose leadership the decision to renew the secretariat was made, which was in poor condition.
He also thanked the members of the renovation committee, who since 2016, successfully raised funds to support the renovation works, and GOIL, the Minerals Commission, the GCB Bank, the National Investment Bank (NIB) and the National Company of Ghana Oil (GNPC), among others, for their financial support.
Warranty
Ashanti regional minister Simon Osei-Mensah assured that the government will continue to recognize the leadership institution as a development partner.
However, he expressed concern about the growing number of disputes over leadership in most parts of the country that, according to the minister, were not only a threat to peace, but also an obstacle to development.
Mr. Osei Mensah, therefore, pleaded with the chiefs to find an amicable solution to the disputes so that the government could successfully carry out its development agenda.
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