Kumasi, Jan 28, GNA - Nana Susubiribi Krobea Asante, Paramount Chief of Asokore Traditional area in Ashanti has underscored the need for the National House of Chiefs (NHC) to undertake an evaluation of traditional customs and usage with a view to eliminating those that are outmoded and socially harmful.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Monday in Kumasi, he noted that the incident of highly publicized chieftaincy disputes with attendant tragic consequences have generated public criticism that the NHC has failed its constitutional mandate. Nana Krobea Asante, who is also a member of the NHC, stated that although some of the criticisms might not be entirely well-founded, it does demonstrate public concern about the frequency of highly disruptive chieftaincy disputes and challenged the House to explore all avenues in performing its functions.

He conceded that even though the House has no jurisdiction to intervene in any chieftaincy dispute emanating from a traditional council or a Regional House of Chiefs until the dispute is referred to it, the House has an obligation to ensure that issues that bring about chieftaincy disputes were minimized at the lower levels. He expressed concern about lack of logistics and human resource at the NHC.

"The House lacks resources to perform research and scholarly functions related to the progressive study, interpretation and codification of customary law and the compilation of customary laws and lines of succession applicable to each stool and skin, he emphasized. He called on the government to vote substantial amount for the above task as part of its essential expenditures for dispute settlement and for maintaining law and order, stating that chieftaincy dispute can undermine stability and impede development.

Nana Asante also suggested that resources be made available to the House to engage experts and research assistants to undertake the social study, interpretation, codification of customary law. "The NHC cannot properly perform its functions under Article 272 unless and until it receives appropriate data from the study compilation of the various R.H.C. defined under Article 272 3(c) and (d) of the constitution."

He also recommended that the President convene an urgent session of the House to consider more effective ways of discharging the constitutional functions of the House.