Togbe Afede, President of National House Of Chiefs
THE NATIONAL House of Chiefs (NHC) has expressed concern about “the growing tension in our country at a time when we are confronted with a lot of challenges.”
In a statement released on Sunday, the NHC itemized the challenges as the coronavirus (Covid-l9) pandemic, CSM epidemic, flooding, joblessness, among others, which it indicated that all Ghanaians stick together and work towards finding the appropriate solutions.
“In the face of these challenges, what Ghanaians need is hope not fear. But sadly, our airwaves are filled with intimidation and threats of anarchy, mayhem, and war. Our political leaders appear to be more concerned about winning power than the development needs and the happiness of our people,” the statement stated.
It was jointly signed by the President of the NHC, Togbe Afede XIV, and his Vice, Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, who is also the Paramount Chief of Abeadze Traditional Area in the Central Region.
The chiefs said central to the escalating tension is the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters’ register.
“Unfortunately, the EC failed to honour invitations to the National House of Chiefs when our traditional leaders wanted the opportunity to promote dialogue in the interest of peace,” the statement noted.
The chiefs called on the EC to make peaceful conduct of this year’s general election its primary objective, and added that this would require, among others, that no qualified Ghanaian is disenfranchised, and that the election is made free and fair.
“We all have to remember that power is not exercised in a vacuum and so it would be naive for anyone to think that a constitutionally created ‘independent body’ has unbridled power. That cannot be the intention of the framers of our Constitution.
“We humbly ask for sober reflection, an honest evaluation of our progress as a nation over the past 63 years, and recommitment by all Ghanaians to the ideals that inspired our founding fathers,” the statement said.
It added that Ghanaians need to give substance to the claim that “the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.”
“At this time when unimaginable atrocities are being visited on the black man in various parts of the world, we need to work together to strengthen the peace and create harmonious living conditions at home, so that xenophobic isolation abroad would not be preferred by our people,” the chiefs said.
According to them, as chiefs, they have the responsibility and duty “to speak objectively on national issues and in defence of the national interest.”
“So at this crucial time, we owe a sacred duty to our people to remind all of us about the pledge to be faithful and loyal to Ghana my motherland,” the chiefs asserted and asked Ghanaians to subordinate individual interest and political party loyalty to the national desire for peace, unity and development.
By Ernest Kofi Adu