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The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has pledged to provide living allowances to paramount and divisional chiefs, as well as queen mothers if elected president.
He believes this financial support will empower traditional authorities to better support the government’s efforts in national development.
Dr Bawumia made this promise during a meeting with members of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs as part of his campaign tour on Monday. He highlighted the importance of amending section 63 (D) of the Chieftaincy Act to enhance the role of chiefs in governance.
“I want to amend section 63 (D) of the Chieftaincy Act to empower the chiefs to help the government to govern this country. It will help all of us. We need to empower the chiefs to help the government, and empowering the chiefs is not only to change the law but to financially resource the chiefs,” Dr. Bawumia explained.
He stressed that without adequate financial resources, chiefs cannot effectively perform their duties.
“So, my manifesto team has looked at all of it. We are saying that we have to pay living allowances to the paramount chiefs and not stop there but to the divisional chiefs and the queen mothers so that we can have a complete chieftaincy institution that is empowered to help the government,” he stated.
He further proposed granting equity stakes in mineral resources to traditional leaders within their respective jurisdictions. He believes this will be a major solution to tackling illegal mining activities across the country.
According to the Vice President, involving traditional leaders in land management in collaboration with district assemblies can deter illegal miners who exploit regulatory loopholes. He argues that giving chiefs an equity stake will incentivize them to protect their lands from degradation and promote sustainable mining practices.
“The resource, whether it’s a gold mine or whatever, when we find gold in your area, then you have a stake in it, an equity stake. The district assembly has an equity stake. Once you have an equity stake, you will not allow the land to be misused,” Dr. Bawumia explained.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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