By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Dec. 10, GNA- Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, Vice-Chancellor, University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has called on traditional rulers to uphold high standards of their profession.
He also appealed to them to uphold justice and fairness in the discharge of their duties.
He said there is the need for traditional rulers to become effective agents of change in the fight against poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, injustice, and environmental degradation.
Prof Amartey said this in a speech read on his behalf, at the opening of a workshop for chiefs and staff of traditional councils, regional and national House of Chiefs.
The five-day training workshop is being organised by the Otumfuo Centre for Traditional Leadership (OCTL) at the UPSA.
Areas to be covered during the training programme include land administration, conflict management, negotiation skills, laws on chieftaincy and gender issues.
OCTL is one of the centres of Excellence at UPSA which serves as a platform for institutionalized training for traditional leaders to enhance their capacity to lead and manage their resources effectively and sustainably.
Prof Amartey said since the establishment of OCTL about three years ago, the Centre continues to equip traditional leaders and staff of traditional councils with effective leadership and management skills towards the sustainable development of their communities.
He said this second workshop of the year coincides with the University’s annual leadership lecture.
The VC said the lecture was an annual flagship programme where outstanding individuals with insights into leadership, relative to peculiar global and local challenges, within the content of an emerging economy, were identified to give the lecture.
He said it also provided an intellectual platform where these distinguished individuals critically examine and deliberate on leadership challenges and offer solutions.
Prof Amartey expressed the view that, the present and future generation would appreciate the critical nature of leadership in the lives of individuals, communities, institutions, and the country as a whole.
Prof Kwame Frimpong, Dean, Faculty of Law, UPSA, said the is the need to revitalize the chieftaincy institution, and retool it as a partner to government in development.
He said traditional rulers should evaluate old practices and recognize those which were inconsistent with the modern concept of democratic governance.
Prof Frimpong said democracy thrives on accountability, adding that “for there to be accountability there must be rule of law, when the laws are not enforced this leads to lack of accountability”.
Lepowura Alhaji Mohammed Nuru-Deen Jawula, Director of OCTL, said being equipped to be able to operate effectively within the local governance system, included, having a clear understanding of the roles of traditional leaders; as enshrined in the 1992 constitution.
He was hopeful that the workshop would help them sharpen their skills and as well help to gain more knowledge on how to bring development to their communities.
Nana Esi Ninsin VIII, Ekumfi Nifa Hemaa, a participant at the workshop, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, commended the organizers and called on corporate bodies to support the initiative by sponsoring traditional leaders to partake in the workshop.
She said Ghana could not make strides in its development agenda, when the role of traditional rulers was down played.
She said there is the need for them to acquire knowledge and new ideas that would assist in modern practices in local governance.
GNA
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