Mamfe-Akuapem (E/R), Jan. 28, GNA- The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Samson Kwaku Boafo, has called on traditional rulers to get rid of archaic customs, which retard progress and development of the chieftaincy institution to enable it to contribute effectively towards the development of the country.

He urged traditional rulers to explore funding beyond government grants from other institutions like the World Bank, multilateral donors and citizens of the various traditional areas domiciled abroad for purposes of setting up of educational funds, scholarships schemes and carrying out development projects to augment government's efforts. Mr Boafo was speaking at a durbar organised by the chiefs and people of Mamfe-Akuapem in the Eastern Region to celebrate their Annual Ohum festival over the weekend.

President, John Agyekum Kufuor was among the large crowd who witnessed the Festival, which is celebrated every year in December, but was shifted to January this year to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of the installation of Mamfehene and Kyidomhene of Akuapem Traditional Area, Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III.

Mr Kweku-Boafo called on the various houses of chiefs to make the necessary efforts to reduce the number of chieftaincy disputes, to enable them to focus on the development of their areas. The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Asiedu-Afram said government attaches great importance to the chieftaincy institution due to its contribution towards the socio-political and economical development of the country over the years. He however expressed concern about the numerous chieftaincy and land disputes involving chiefs in the region in particular and the nation at large and regretted the large amount of money that government spends in settling such disputes.

Mr Asiedu-Afram urged chiefs to avoid all issues, which have the potential of degenerating into chieftaincy dispute in order to make the institution an enviable one.

Earlier, in a welcoming address, Osabarima Ansah-Sasraku expressed his concern about the relegation of chiefs to the background in contemporary Ghanaian politics, and therefore called for the revision of the Chieftaincy Act in order to provide room for the leadership potential of chiefs to be tapped for the development of the local government system in the country.

He said the new Act must openly define the relationship existing between traditional authorities and the decentralized departments. Osabarima Ansa-Sasakraku said traditional rulers must be accorded the necessary recognition as public officers and given the resources to carry out their mandated functions. Nana Ansah Sasraku urged chiefs to ensure transparency, credibility and accountability so that the institution maintains the respect and support of their communities, civil society groups, government and the donor community. He called on all stakeholders to help make this years general elections violent free, because Ghanaians cannot afford to loose the peace they are enjoying. .