The Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Prof. (Emeritus) Oti Boateng has called for a closure to the perennial debate and questioning of the relevance of Chieftaincy in modern times.

He has, therefore, charged the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs to change course towards fostering sustainable partnerships to build a Chieftaincy Economic Development Model to define chieftaincy role in modern development governance.

Daasebre said this in a welcome address to the Minister of Chieftaincy & Traditional Affairs, Dr. Seidu Dannaa, during his official visit to the New Juaben Traditional Council at the Omanhene’s palace in Koforidua.

The Omanhene, a renowned statistician who is currently leading a crusade for the adoption of a home-grown economic development model, said “In the face of mounting poverty amongst our subjects, the stakes are too high, the times are too grave and the challenges too urgent for Chiefs to continue to remain ceremonial relics of ancestral leadership, and patrons of esoteric workshops”.

He noted that traditional leadership position in the development space is at the heart of the Chieftaincy relevancy question. He observed that the best way to redeem the image of the Chieftaincy institution and to sustain its relevance in modern times is for chiefs to become active players and not spectators of development and ornaments of project commissioning as pertains currently.

Daasebre admonished his colleague chiefs not to see the ‘Senchi Consensus’ for development as an exclusive enterprise and responsibility of political leadership to develop the country, but a turning point for a major shift for the Chieftaincy institution to build a national consensus for the adoption of a common development roadmap as a collective enterprise between political and traditional leadership.

He called on the major players in the Chieftaincy institution to be conscious of the current exigency, eschew individual inclinations and move rapidly towards cooperation than competition to chart a common course for a system-based development model for all traditional areas in the country.

The Omanhene also called on Ghanaians to see the importance of the Senchi consensus beyond the 22-point communiqué to shape the general discourse towards finding solutions to the current economic challenges.

He said the ‘Senchi consensus’ establishes the existence of a consensus amongst Ghanaians for a CHANGE and acknowledges the need for a more robust HOME-GROWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, which has eluded the country for decades.

This Consensus for Change and the emphasis on a Home-Grown Economic Development Model must therefore be adopted as the Twin-Thematic Framework to chart a new course for national development.

The task ahead, however, is even more arduous, strenuous and formidable as we move in search for that which has eluded us for generations. But, by the grace of almighty God and with the united aid of a strong will-power, commitment, fortitude and resilience of character, we shall eventually overcome.

In another development, Daasebre disclosed to the Minister that he is currently leading an initiative with seasoned thinkers in the country to design a globally competitive Home-Grown Economic model to underline grassroots’ development applicable to any local jurisdiction in the developing world. He has therefore called for the active cooperation and commitment of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs to subscribe to this model to make a National and Global statement from the institution of Chieftaincy in Ghana.

The Minster of Chieftaincy & Traditional Affairs, Dr. Seidu Dannaa, on his part said it is the very issue of ensuring the relevance of the chieftaincy institution and its active role in development that underlines his visit to the New Juaben Traditional Council, and his current tour to solicit inputs from major stakeholders for a national consensus on Chieftaincy role in Development.

Dr. Seidu Dannaa assured Daasebre of the cooperation of the Ministry of Chieftaincy for his noble initiative to contribute towards exploring the prospects of re-defining Chieftaincy leadership role in national development, especially the moment of it, coming on the heels of the SENCHI DECLARATION where a profound intersection between development and all-facets of national leadership has been established as a shared enterprise towards developing a Home-Grown Economic Model to underline national development.