Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has announced plans to provide a living allowance to the chieftaincy institution if he emerges victorious in the 2024 election.
The Vice President emphasized the importance of ensuring that chiefs have adequate resources to carry out their duties while addressing the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs during his tour of the Greater Accra Region.
Dr. Bawumia highlighted that it is unreasonable to assign responsibilities to chiefs without providing them with the necessary resources. He proposed paying living allowances to paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, and queen mothers to address this issue.
He explained that this initiative would involve monthly payments, with paramount chiefs receiving 1000 cedis each month. Dr. Bawumia acknowledged that the current lack of financial support for chiefs makes it challenging for them to attend meetings and fulfill their duties effectively.
Furthermore, the Vice President promised to amend the chieftaincy act to empower chiefs to enforce discipline more effectively within their communities. He expressed concern over the lack of discipline in many societies due to chiefs’ limited powers to summon individuals to the palace.
Dr. Bawumia proposed amending section 63D of the Chieftaincy Act to grant chiefs more authority, enabling them to address disputes promptly and reduce the backlog of cases in the courts.
He emphasized that re-empowering chiefs and amending the Chieftaincy Act would be a priority if he assumes office, aiming to restore discipline and strengthen traditional governance structure.
