National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament of Bongo Constituency in the Upper East Region, Edward Abambire Bawa, has said that the constitution of Ghana does not allow traditional rulers to be called kings.
According to him, Ghana is not running a monarchical political system as a republic state.
Speaking on Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily show, Mr. Bawa said that any traditional ruler calling himself a king threatens the unity of the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”L7nyAOSmuT1ocsTrTliXIUfQXNcUIYMg”]Citing the chieftaincy Act, he said the laws of Ghana permits for the title ‘chief’ for traditional leaders who are also to act as development agents for the country.
“One thing I have always resisted is the title king. By our constitution, we have no kings in Ghana, we have Chiefs. We have Chiefdom, not Kingdoms, so when you begin to do that you threaten the whole country. We are all one. We are not in a monarch. We are not in a Kingdom. We are in a republic.”
Mr. Bawa also accused some traditional leaders of taking advantage of their elevated position in society to take advantage of their subjects.
He mentioned that problems of illegal mining have partly got to do with irresponsible traditional rulers who sell lands anyhow because they have assumed roles of tin-gods and are accountable to no one.
Mr. Edward Bawa also called for reforms of the Chieftaincy institution to meet changes of present times.
Speaking on the historic visit of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu to the Okyenhene in Kyebi, the Member of Parliament for Bongo said the event highlighted some aspects of the Ghanaian culture.
He also described as”interesting how national resources were at play at Kyebi” citing the use of motorcades and convoys for by Government appointees.
A historic visit by Otumfuo to Okyenhene
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu on Thursday, August 23, 2018, visited the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II in Kyebi in the Eastern Region.
It was the first time an Asante king has gone to Kyebi in peace since 1742.
The visit, which was deemed historic because of the cultural tensions that exist between Asantes and Akyems, was to mark the 75th anniversary of the death of the chief of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Nana Sir Ofori Atta I
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By: Jude Mensa Duncan/Citinewsroom.com/Ghana