Ho, Jan. 23, GNA - The Volta Regional House of Chiefs is to begin hearing cases lodged before it following the recent engagement of a full-time legal counsel.

The House, at a meeting in Ho on Wednesday approved membership of nine judicial committees made up mainly of permanent members and a few alternating members.

Togbega Gabusu VI, President of the House, introduced Mr Kodzo-Kuma Dzanku, the new counsel for the House and expressed the hope that his engagement "would go along way in solving the numerous chieftaincy disputes in the Region". The House had been without a legal counsel for the past seven years. Togbega Gabusu, listing the 27 cases before the House advised the committee members to be "upright, devoid of any biases, while taking decisions on the cases so that fair and accurate judgment can be delivered".

He said the delay in getting a legal counsel was not due to the scheming of any one person, as speculated, but as a result of real problems of attracting lawyers to the job. Togbega Gabusu also denied suggestions that he was unwilling to leave office after his term had expired, explaining that he and other presidents of other Houses of Chiefs whose terms elapsed were in office because of a court suit that stopped elections to replace them. He said National House of Chiefs had accordingly passed a resolution "dated December 6, 2007 to extend the term of office of office holders until that suit was determined. 23 Jan. 08