By: Gregory Pilkington Amoah
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Sam Nartey George has called on politicians to desist from meddling in chieftaincy affairs and allow the institution to run its own course and affairs.
Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to hand over the renovated office of the Prampram Traditional Council spearheaded by Dzata Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility wing of his office, he emphasized on the need to uphold the Chieftancy institution to salvage the deteriorating cultural fibre of the country.
The firebrand legislator argued that, the chieftaincy institution has since time immemorial played a watchdog role over society and ensuring that the cultural fiber maintained.
According to him, this role of chieftaincy has in recent years been undermined due to issues like meddling in the affairs of the institution by the political class, a situation he believes has culminated in the slow deterioration of the cultural tenets that underpinned society therefore calling on politicians to desist from this trend and allow chieftaincy play its role to bring back the cultural sanctity that we once boasted of.
He opined that;
“Politicians are trying to install chiefs who will be their puppets—that’s not the way to go,” he said. “The chieftaincy institution must be respected and allowed to run its own full course. Politics and chieftaincy should move hand in hand.”
He stressed that chieftaincy should not be subservient to politicians and that politicians who meddle in chieftaincy affairs must be stopped while further calling for a fund drawn from the consolidated fund to be dedicated to Traditional authorities to help in their adminstration.
The event held on Friday, August 23, 2024, followed a similar gesture to the Ningo Traditional Council, where Sam George donated three tons of maize, various local and foreign alcoholic beverages, and an undisclosed amount of cash, was attended by chiefs, leaders of Prampram, and NDC party faithful.