Koforidua, March 4, GNA- The Konor of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Dawutey Ologo V, has discarded the notion that chiefs have outlived their usefulness in society.

He said although the introduction of the District Assembly concept had taken away some of the powers and influence of traditional authorities that should not be misconstrued to mean that they are inefficient.

Nene Dawutey made the call in Koforidua at a two-day Multi-stakeholders Dialogue on Capacity Enhancement Needs Assessment Workshop for community empowerment in service delivery on Thursday. He said there were well-educated chiefs who are qualified to occupy influential positions and contribute effectively towards national development adding, "There is the possibility that we will do better than most politicians".

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah said there was the need to expose traditional rulers to modern trends of public administration and management to enable them to play a more active role development. He said the government's "Positive Change Chapter Two" would build the country's human resource base by improving on the educational system.

Mr Barimah commended the World Bank Institute (WBI) and the May Day Rural Project, for organising a capacity enhancement needs assessment in the Birim South, Akuapem South and Yilo Krobo districts. Mr Kofi Anani of the WBI described the public notion that the appointment of traditional rulers to public offices would expose them to public ridicule as untrue.