The Queen Mothers
DEPUTY Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Alfred Tuah- Yeboah has advocated for the inclusion of Queen Mothers in the Judicial Committees of the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs.
According to him, the practice where Queen Mothers are excluded from the committees is discriminatory as there is no constitutional provision that bars Queen Mothers from being part of the judicial committees.
Speaking at the 3rd Annual Conference and Workshop of the National Queen Mothers Platform in Sunyani, Mr. Tuah- Yeboah underscored the important role of Queen Mothers in the socio-economic and justice delivery development of the country particularly in their traditional areas to enhance governance.
He said the practice does not conform to modern governance practice since most Queen Mothers are as qualified as their male counterparts and experienced in traditional matters.
The Minister of Justice urged the national Queen Mothers’ Association to advocate for their inclusion by petitioning relevant ministries, the National House of Chiefs, or going to court.
The Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MCRA), Stephen Asamoa Boateng also lauded the Queen Mothers Platform for contributing to national development.
He assured them of his ministry’s logistical support to do more and empower women for development.
Mr. Asamoa Boateng assured the Queen Mothers that he will liaise with the National, Regional, and Traditional Councils so that they are recognised and become active participants in their deliberations.
“The time has come for your roles to be inserted somewhere to fine-tune with modern governance. Your positions do not have to be viewed as confrontational with the chiefs, but rather as collaborative,” he said.
At the end of the three-day conference the Queen Mothers will be taken through topics like “Traditional Rulers in the 1992 Constitution”, Traditional Leadership in Enforcement of Local By-laws, ‘The State of the Queen Mother as an Institution in Modern Society, and ‘Role and Expectations’.
In attendance were the Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, and the KAS country director, Dr. Arne Wulff.
The rest are Nsawkwa paramount chief, Daasebere Okogyeman Duodu Ampem II representing the President of Bono Regional House of Chief, Osagyefo Osadeoyo Agyemang Badu who is also the Dormahene and the president of the Queen Mother platform, Nana Amponsah Dokua III who is also the paramount queen mother of Osudoko Traditional Area.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee