Techiman(BA), April 19, GNA - A Bill to empower chiefs to adjudicate on chieftaincy and land disputes has been placed before Parliament.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of Culture and Chieftaincy Affairs announced this during a familiarization visit to Techiman Municipality as part of his Brong Ahafo Regional tour.

He explained that the bill sought to amend the Chieftaincy Act 370 of 1971 to free the Judiciary from dealing with chieftaincy and land disputes in order to deal with other cases speedily. Mr Boafo said it would in addition, guarantee chiefs the right to arbitrate only in civil cases.

He pledged to allocate some funds from the Ministry to chiefs to undertake development projects and cultural activities. Oseadeeyo Akumfi-Ameyaw 1V, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area appealed to the Ministry for an amicable solution to the conflict in the Tano Subin area.