National House of Chiefs Decries Poor Allowances and Logistics, Urges Parliament to Protect Constitutional Independence.

Members of the National House of Chiefs have lamented over insufficient sitting allowances and lack of logistics affecting the performance of their constitutional mandate.

The Chiefs raised these concerns when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs paid a courtesy call on the House in Kumasi.

Emphasising the challenges of the Chiefs, the President of the National House of Chiefs and the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anwiaso Traditional Area in the Western North Region, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II noted that their vehicles are expected to be changed every four years but the last time it was changed was in 2019.

He indicated that the newly created six Regions do not have accommodation for the House of Chiefs and even the GHc 400 allocation per quarter meant for logistics as well as the GHc 3,000 monthly allowance are not paid regularly.

Considering the fact that the National House of Chiefs is now under a Ministry, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central, Hon. Dan Abdul-Latif, who was acting as the available Ranking Member for the Committee, suggested that the National House of Chiefs must make convincing proposals to the Leadership of Parliament to remain as an independent body as enshrined in the constitution so that it does not depend on Ministries for any allocation.

The Chairman of the Committee Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah expressed the Committee’s commitment and willingness to help the National House of Chiefs to function effectively and settle most of the Chieftaincy issues before it.