CHIEFS SET UP COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW (PAGE 22, APRIL 24, 2010)

THE National House of Chiefs (NHC) has constituted a subcommittee to receive and collate inputs from the various Regional Houses of Chiefs in the country on the government’s decision to review the 1992 Constitution.
Already, circulars have been sent out to Nananom to submit their suggestions on the subject matter for onward submission to the NHC.
The President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, who disclosed this at the first general meeting of the house in Sunyani, however stated that there had been no response from Nananom on such an important matter.
He, therefore, appealed to members of the house who wished to make some inputs to direct them to a subcommittee constituted by the house at the shortest possible time to enable the committee to submit its report by the end of this month.
Osahene Aterkyi, who is also the Omanhene of the Kukuom Traditional Area, said it was unfortunate that only a few months after the region celebrated its 50th anniversary of its creation, it had been confronted with some delicate challenges.
He mentioned the Techiman-Tuobodom-Asanteman problem as a classical example.
Osahene Aterkyi said the chiefs were aware of the historical background of that problem, which dated back to events that took place in the 18th century.
He added that recent developments stretching from 1996 to date had been very challenging to the house and of late, assumed national dimension.
Osahene Aterkyi expressed the wish that the matter would be resolved peacefully through regulars contacts and negotiations, which had already started to ensure that lasting peace was reached within the Tano Subin areas, Techiman and Asanteman.
He informed the house that the dispute that engulfed the Goaso Traditional Area following the abdication of Krotwiamansa Agyei Ampofo had finally been resolved and that a new Omanhene had been installed, in the person of Nana Akwasi Bosompra.
According to him, the chieftaincy declaration forms of the new Omanhene had been approved by the NHC and that his name had been entered in the National Register of Chiefs.
Osahene Aterkyi stated that the new chief would be admitted to the membership of the house shortly.
He expressed the hope that other vacant stools in the region would be filled within the shortest possible time so that their occupants would also take their seats in the house.
Osahene Aterkyi also informed the house that the regional caucus of the Council of State had, through the Regional Minister, donated a new Mahindra Bolero Turbo vehicle to the house.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, appealed to the chiefs to do everything within their power to stem the escalation of chieftaincy and land disputes in the region.
He stressed that the continued existence of those disputes would not only dent the image of the region as a peaceful place for investment and tourism promotion, but would also retard the general development as had been the case in other conflict areas.
‘‘We have full confidence in the capacity and experience of Nananom to resolve the various disputes before they get out of hand,’’ Mr Opoku said.
The deputy regional minister urged the various traditional councils to prepare their medium and long-term development plans to guide them in the judicious utilisation of funds from stool lands, as well as revenue from other sources for development projects, which would benefit the generality of the people.