Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has called for increased funding for the chieftaincy institution, citing its importance in maintaining the moral fibre of the country.
He made this known during a ceremony where his Dzata Foundation handed over a renovated building to the Prampram Traditional Council. The building, previously used by the district assembly, had fallen into disrepair before being restored.
Addressing a mini durbar, the Paramount Chief of Prampram, Nene Tetteh Wakah III, explained that the renovation was necessary due to the district assembly’s failure to fulfil its promise of refurbishing the building. The assembly had taken over the building from the traditional council in 2012 with the agreement to renovate it and return it once they had built their own offices. However, despite numerous requests, the assembly did not fulfil this promise, leaving the building in a state of disrepair.
“I sent several delegations to meet with the District Chief Executive (DCE) to request renovation of the building but was met with indifference. I even followed up to the DCE’s office myself on three occasions, but was told that there were no funds available for the renovation,” Nene Tetteh Wakah III stated.
Against this backdrop, Sam George intervened, using his own resources to renovate the building. He coordinated with the CSR wing of his office, the Dzata Foundation, who agreed to assist. The renovation project was completed at a huge cost to Mr George, who expressed his satisfaction in being able to restore the building and provide a new home for the traditional council.
The renovated building now features a conference room, office space for the chief and other officials, as well as various offices to support the council’s activities. The MP expressed his pleasure in providing a modern and functional facility for the traditional council, enabling them to carry out their work more effectively.
Sam George’s intervention was not just about providing a new home for the traditional council. He emphasized that it was also about ensuring that the institution received the respect and support it deserved. He noted that the weakening of the chieftaincy institution had damaged the moral fibre of the country and stressed the importance of properly resourcing chiefs and traditional institutions.
In addition to the building renovation, the MP donated food items, alcoholic beverages, and an undisclosed amount of cash to the council. He called for a system to ensure that some funds from the consolidated fund reach the chieftaincy institution, highlighting their lack of access to land and assets. He explained that traditional councils were unable to secure funding for projects due to their limited resources, which negatively impacted their ability to carry out their work.
“In traditional areas where chiefs are still very strong and powerful, you realize that the moral fibre of those communities is enforced. The moral code is enforced by the chiefs, not by politicians. Morality and the moral fibre of our country must not be the mandate of politicians,” he emphasized.
The Ningo-Prampram legislator further expressed concern over the weakening of the chieftaincy institution, which he believes is leading to a loss of cultural integrity in the new generation.
“Politicians are trying to install chiefs who will be their puppets—that’s not the way to go,” he said. “The chieftaincy institution must be respected and allowed to run its own full course. Politics and chieftaincy should move hand in hand.”
He stressed that chieftaincy should not be subservient to politicians and that politicians who meddle in chieftaincy affairs must be stopped.
The event held on Friday, August 23, 2024, followed a similar gesture to the Ningo Traditional Council, where Sam George donated three tons of maize, various local and foreign alcoholic beverages, and an undisclosed amount of cash, was attended by chiefs, leaders of Prampram, and NDC party faithful.
Source:newsalertgh.com