Government Is Committed To Promoting Culture - Minister.

Alhaji Limuna Mohammed- Muniru, Upper East Regional Minister, has stated that government was committed to promoting Ghana�s cultural diversity as an asset for national development. He said government would exploit and advance the country�s multiplicity of cultures for growth, employment and wealth creation. Alhaji Mohammed- Miniru gave the assurance when he addressed a general meeting of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, in Bolgatanga at the weekend. He said plans were far advanced to integrate culture into the national development plan, to help accelerate poverty reduction and create wealth for the people. Alhaji Mohammed- Miniru said the progress and development of the country could not be effectively achieved without the active support of traditional rulers, adding that government was committed to strengthening the role of traditional authorities. �The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs in collaboration with District Assemblies is to organize capacity building workshops to disseminate government policies on governance to traditional rulers to enable them better appreciate their role in partnering government to realize its objective in conflict resolution, agriculture, public security, infrastructural development, health, sanitation and education�, he stressed.. The Regional Minister called on the House to resolve all chieftaincy disputes as records had shown that the region was beset with security challenges emanating primarily from the chieftaincy institution. �Chieftaincy is a revered institution that ought to be protected and sustained for prosperity. However, most chieftaincy conflicts arise as a result of lack of documentation on the lines of succession to the throne�, he said. Alhaji Mohammed- Miniru said there was need for the respective Regional Houses of Chiefs to commission a research team to ascertain the situation and come out with findings that would streamline the ascension process to any stool or skin to forestall disputes when vacancies occurs. Naba Sigri Bewong, President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, indicated that the National House of Chiefs had approved a code of ethics for chiefs to serve as a guideline in their dealings and said, any violation of portions of the code could constitute grounds for disposition of a chief as all traditional areas had their own rules for dealing with violations of their customary practices relating to their chiefs. He said the Upper East House of Chiefs had no counsel to assist them address legal issues, adding that it had in the past relied on a counsel, who served the Northern Regional House of Chiefs thus delaying legal cases in the Upper East . Naba Sigri Bewong called on the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs to expedite the process of getting counsels for the Regional House of Chiefs to facilitate the handling of chieftaincy dispute. He appealed to all striking labour unions to as a matter of urgency rescind their decisions and resume work to advance the course of attaining a developed and progressive country. Naba Sigri Bewong said Ghana was noted as a peaceful and leading democracy in Africa, and called for collective efforts towards national development.