Ho, May 22, GNA - Mr Sampson K. Boafo, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, has suggested to chiefs in the Volta Region to compose a group of eminent chiefs from the region to help solve the chieftaincy problem in the Anlo Traditional Area.

The Anlo Traditional Area has been without a substantive paramount chief, Awomefia, following the death of Togbi Adeladza more than 10 years ago.

Mr Boafo, who was reacting to concerns raised by Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Ho Asogli, at a durbar of chiefs and people of the Asogli Traditional Council in his honour on Tuesday, said the government would not like to get involved in resolving the problem to prevent such initiative from being politicized. He said chiefs were the best qualified to resolve their problems. Mr Boafo said the government was putting into effect measures that would restore the pre-eminent place of chiefs and the chieftaincy institution.

He said the Chieftaincy Bill, when passed into law, would give legal backing to chiefs to adjudicate cases in their localities, thus lifting some of the pressure off the courts. Mr Boafo said the Ministry of Finance has cleared the way for the appointment of lawyers for the Regional Houses of Chiefs and that all the Regional Houses of Chiefs would soon be provided with four-wheel drives.

Mr Boafo urged chiefs to set off a debate on the issue of chiefs being given powers to collect some levies and rates in their communities. He appealed to chiefs to be at the forefront of campaigns to get their people to join the National Health Insurance Scheme (HNIS) and the cedi re-denomination.

Mr Boafo commended the Agbogbomefia for his development efforts and his campaign for national unity and peaceful co-existence. He mentioned specifically the personal efforts of the Agbogbomefia in bringing the Shenzhen Energy Group Company Limited of China to help in efforts at resolving the country's power supply problems. "We know you are trying to help without playing politics. Your efforts will be rewarded. People admire you because of the way you portray your traditional area."

Togbe Afede said traditional authorities in the country "have the will and the ability to complement the government's efforts to bring development to the people".

He expressed concern at the unwillingness of government officials in the Volta Region to consult chiefs on issues. "We have never been consulted by our political authorities who do not feel any sense of responsibility towards the chiefs, let alone the people", Togbe Afede said.

He called for a clear definition of the funding relationship between the assemblies and their respective traditional areas. "We are aware that some traditional authorities receive various forms of regular support from their assemblies. But it appears we in Ho are governed by different laws", he said.