Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 1st June ?99

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has directed that all appeals filed on or before December 1996 which are pending before the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs be disposed of before the end of the year.

He said he would ensure that the necessary financial and administrative support is provided to the judicial committee for the efficient dispatch of their work.

The Asantehene gave the directive when he addressed the first General Meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs at the Manhyia Palace on Monday.

He said he would be monitoring not only the attendance of members of the judicial committee but also the time they would begin sitting.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu was not happy that appeals filed as far back as 1989 were still pending before Nananom.

He reminded them that their traditional role as promoters of peace, progress and stability in the society would be measured to a large extent by the fairness with which they undertake their adjudicating functions.

Touching on research functions of the House, Otumfuo Osei Tutu observed that almost all the major works on customary laws had been undertaken by foreigners, stressing that the lack of well-defined statements of customary laws had led to the Houses giving divergent views on the same subject matter.

The Asantehene said his management of the affairs of the House would be by the committee system that would ensure that matters are looked at in critical detail before they are considered in plenary sessions.

To this end, he appointed a standing Committee which would be charged with reviewing and updating the Standing Orders of the House.

It will also propose the various committees to be set up and determine their composition.

The Asantehene asked the Mamponghene, Nana Osei Bonsu II, to be responsible for the constitution of the Standing Committee of which he will be the chairman.

He thanked the government, various embassies and Asanteman for their contributions towards the burial of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and their support for his enstoolment as Asantehene.

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, thanked the chiefs for welcoming him to the region and for giving him the necessary support and co-operation.

A minute's silence and a prayer were said in memory of the late Asantehene who was President of the House.