Fifi Boafo, spokesperson for the Vice Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has clarified that the call on chiefs to express their views on political issues was not intended to violate the Constitution of Ghana.
Speaking at a meeting with the Nungua Traditional Council on Thursday, July 25, Dr Opoku Prempeh urged traditional leaders to participate in the country’s politics, stressing their vital role in shaping Ghana’s development.
In a subsequent interview with Citi FM, Fifi Boafo stressed that Dr Prempeh’s call was aimed at promoting collective development rather than undermining the Constitution.
Dr Opoku Prempeh explained that they wanted traditional authorities to take a strong stance on key issues such as natural resource management to prevent politicians from making decisions solely in their own interest.
The spokesman reiterated that Dr Opoku Prempeh popularly known as NAPO is not asking chiefs to align with political parties but to contribute their perspectives as important stakeholders in the development of Ghana.
“He was very categorical about it. He said he was not asking any chief to don party colours but rather, if there was a proposal on how to deal with resources, for example mineral resources, how should they be dealt with?”
“Traditional authorities must take a strong stand to show what we should do as a country to develop the country.”
“He is of the view that, for example, the constitution provides that if resources are found on the land, those resources are to be used in partnership with the state, but if a chief gives land to someone to cultivate and the chief owns the rights to the land, then in the case of natural resources, the opportunities given to the chief are limited. Is this the best way to go?”
“These are some of the things he wants us as a people to look out for going forward and not confine everything to the hands of politicians who will take decisions and seek implementation, but rather, as important stakeholders, their voices must be heard and they must have a hand in the development of our country,” he said.
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