The National House of Chiefs, one of the noble institutions in the country somewhere last two weeks cautioned chiefs and traditional leaders in the country to desist from giving their backing to party candidates ahead of the 2016 general elections.
The admonition by the National House of Chiefs through the president, Professor Naa John Nabila came in when some chiefs openly declared their unflinching support for some flag bearers. What caused the attention of the president of the National House of Chiefs was that of the president of the Akuapem Traditional Council, Otubour Gyan Kwasi II.
Nana Otubour Gyan Kwasi II had subtly endorsed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.
He urged Nana Akufo-Addo to save Ghana, when the NPP candidate paid a courtesy call on him during his tour of the Eastern region.
To give dignity to the highly respected institution, the president of the National House of Chiefs, Professor Naa John Nabila, noted that such endorsements did not represent the position of the house and urged the chiefs to put an end to such endorsements.
Professor Nabila called on such chiefs and traditional leaders to act in accordance with the Constitution, which bars them from engaging in active party politics.
“We have said so many times we don’t support any particular party… [If a chief endorses a political candidate] that is an individual, that is not the position of the National House of Chiefs. We can only advise them not to endorse parties, but we can’t do anything,” he stated, adding: “My advice is, they should refer to the Constitution which says we shouldn’t take part in active party politics, but it doesn’t mean that you cannot belong.”
However, days after his advice, a number of chiefs and traditional leaders have thrown his call out of the window and consistently declared their supports to various candidates canvassing for votes to win this year’s election.
We believe strongly that what the chiefs are now doing amounts to nothing but gross disrespect and disregard to the high ranking authority which they belong. Just this week, the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Azoka Abugrago II, has given his endorsement to the sitting president based on the fulfillment of promises he made to the people of the area.
“If somebody does you good, we don’t return him with bad. It’s reciprocal. My yearnings have been fulfilled. Presidents have come and gone. Nobody has been able to satisfy my wishes and today you have come to do so. I’m dumfounded as to how to thank you. So, what do we do in return? One good turn deserves another. We should all vote for him in the upcoming elections to retain power.”
The paramount ruler of the Kusaug Kingdom told his subjects [translated] amid cheers and tooting of vuvuzelas. Nana Ansah Adu Baah II, the chief of Yamfo in the Brong-Ahafo has openly endorsed the NPP flagbearer and went ahead to challenge Ghanaians to kill him for endorsing Akufo-Addo and that Akufo-Addo was ordained.
There is another Queen Mother in the Central among many others chiefs that have so far treated the call by the Prof John Nabila with utmost contempt. The General Telegraph urges the traditional leaders and chiefs to show some kind of respect to their leaders.
For a nation to grow, leaders must prove their neutrality and especially when chieftaincy institution is barred from engaging in active partisan politics. The gross disrespect being demonstrated by these chiefs has the tendency to breed division among their subjects since not all their subjects belong to the same political party.
The earlier the chiefs adhere to the call by Prof. John Nabila, the better for their institutions and vice versa.
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