Axim (W/R), Sept 6, GNA - Mr. Kwaku Baa Owusu, Western Regional Director of the National Centre for Civic Education (NCCE), on Friday appealed to chiefs to help to find solutions to the challenges of society.

He said chiefs have to remain relevant to their communities by playing effective roles in development in the present socio-political and economic circumstances.

Mr Owusu was speaking on "the role of the Paramount Chief - The way forward" at a civic education forum organised by the NCCE for chiefs and other traditional leaders of the Nsein Traditional Area. Mr Owusu said chiefs should live above reproach and be fair in the dispensation of justice to protect their image.

He quoted relevant portions of the constitution with regards to the chieftaincy institution and said they should seek the welfare of their people at all times.

The NCCE Director noted that lack of transparency and accountability in the administration of resources of the community by some chiefs had led to dissent and said the trend must be reversed. "Abject poverty among the people has been identified as a threat to the success of democracy and good governance," Mr. Owusu said and appealed to chiefs to support the government in finding lasting solutions to ignorance, unemployment, disease and hunger.

Awulae Agyeifi Kwame II, Omanhene of the Traditional Area, thanked the NCCE for organising the forum and called for unity among the people to promote the development efforts of the government.