Kumasi, May 4, GNA - Togbui Amanyah Fiti V, Paramount chief of Aflao Traditional Area, has called on the government and the nation's development partners to give traditional rulers some strategic role in the development process.

He noted that traditional rulers had key been assets and strategic partners in the nation's development since pre-colonial days and as such were well conversant with the peculiar problems of the people at the grassroots and were in the position of addressing their needs if given the necessary support.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi at the weekend, Togbui Fiti said it was high time the government had close collaboration and contacts with chiefs in decision-making and policy formulation to ensure good governance at the grassroots. He lamented that traditional rulers in modern day democracy seemed to have been marginalised, stressing that strengthening democratic principles, upholding the rule of law and explaining government policies and programmes depended to a large extent on traditional rulers.

Togbui Fiti said it was high time technocrats and stakeholders in the nation's development brainstormed and charted new roles for traditional rulers in democratic governance towards conflict resolution and sustaining the country's cultural heritage.