Calls for Amendment of Chieftaincy Act – Dorimon Naa
The Paramount Chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area and President of the Dorimon House of Chiefs, Naa Alhaji Seidu Tungbani Salinbile II, has called for a review of Section 63 of the Chieftaincy Act, specifically the sections that categorize paramount chiefs.
According to Naa Salinbile II, it is unreasonable that a paramount chief, who has the authority to enskin divisional chiefs and summon them for certain offenses, is not granted the power to enforce discipline under the current Chieftaincy Law. He pointed out that the existing Act does not allow paramount chiefs to deal with offending divisional chiefs effectively.
Naa Salinbile II is urging the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the National House of Chiefs, the Attorney General’s Department, and the Parliament of Ghana to take steps to amend the Act. The proposed amendments would empower paramount chiefs to punish divisional chiefs who refuse to respond to summonses.
He made this call on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, during a courtesy visit by the Member of Parliament for Wa West Constituency, Hon. Peter Lanchene Toobu, at his palace.
During the visit, Naa Salinbile II also appealed for better allowances for paramount chiefs and divisional chiefs/mothers. He requested the Member of Parliament to advocate for improved stipends when the government is in power, noting that the current allowances for chiefs are inadequate and need to be reassessed.
By Romanus Bombe Kyi-Era
