The Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa on Saturday paid a courtesy call on the Traditional Council in the Aowin District in the Western Region.

The Minister’s visit was to interact with the Traditional authorities as well as offer him an opportunity to have first hand information of challenges facing the authorities and possible solutions.

Nana Ndoli Panin II, spokesperson for the Aowin Traditional Council was not happy how they have been sidelined in major decision making processes by the Aowin District Assembly saying that the chiefs were not usually consulted in any development agenda by the Assembly.

Although the Traditional Council has a representative at the Assembly’s meetings, they insisted that that was not enough and that their representative should be part of the core management of the Assembly.

The Spokeperson pleaded that a proportion of the mandatory 55% of royalties channeled to the Assembly should be set aside for the Traditional Authorities to enable them to also execute projects of their choice.

For his part the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs Dr.  Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa said the Ministry was prepared to work hand in hand with the Traditional authorities within the country.

For this reason Dr. Daanaa said the Ministry will soon roll out a series of workshops for the traditional authorities at regional and district levels to equip them with skills to enable them discharge their duties as expected of them.

Dr. Daanaa also revealed that government has further increased the allowances given to the traditional authorities to an appreciable level.

Wise Zah/Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/Ghanadistricts.com