What do we see in other places? When you go to other places, despite invitations and conscious efforts by their chiefs to try to do things that would make them also succeed like the Otumfuo has done, we see instances of some of us not paying heed to those indications and I am talking about mutual respect of the Ashanti people to the Golden Stool.
I believe that if we are talking about chiefs and we want chiefs to emulate Otumfuo's example, then those of us who are outside Ashanti should also emulate the way the Ashanti people support their chiefs with passion that would make these chiefs succeed and play the roles that they are playing.
Madam Speaker, before I conclude,
I would also want to say that we as Parliamentarians also have a role to play in trying to see that our chiefs succeed the way Otumfuo has succeeded. Why do I say so? We seem to be a group of people who interact so much with the youth in our areas because of our politicking around and our campaigns and what have you. I believe that we would be able to educate the youth on chieftaincy matters and the sort of respect our chiefs would need and the support that I have just talked about.
But at times you see some of our youth taking certain things into their hands, I would say, traditional norms and trying to do certain things that are not warranted of such youth. Seriously, traditional issues do not go too much to the domain of the youth and I believe that Hon Members of Parliament can advise and talk to the youth when we interact with them so that they would have mutual respect for them.
Madam Speaker, I would thank you
for the time that I got to contribute to this
Statement. Thank you very much.
Minister for Communications (Mr.
Haruna Iddrisu): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for this unique opportunity to associate myself with the Statement so ably made by the Hon Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, and in particular, to offer this House an opportunity to join the rest of the people of Ghana and in particular, Asanteman, in observing the 10th anniversary of the reign of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Madam Speaker, one can only be
joining in praying for God's guidance, good health and wisdom from the Almighty God in supporting Otumfuo, affectionately and popularly referred to as “The King Solomon”. He has in the last 10 years demonstrated beyond any shadow of doubt that the debate that wither away the chieftaincy institution does not and cannot affect the Ashanti chieftaincy institution. He is not only an epitome or an embodiment of the values and cultures of the people. He has demonstrated quite clearly that the chieftaincy institution, even in the face of modernity and its threats, can still perform very important cultural, spiritual, religious, judicial and economic functions. He has quite clearly exemplified himself in that endeavour.
Madam Speaker, the Otumfuo's
commitment to national peace and unity and in particular, cohesion within our body politic is not and cannot be questioned at all. Indeed, but for his wisdom and guidance, I am sure we would have witnessed much more chaos if not senseless violence in Dagbon in particular, following the events of March, 27, 2002.
He and the two other eminent chiefs, the Yogbowura and the paramount chief of Mamprugu have managed, over the years,
to ensure that the peace currently enjoyed in Dagbon and its area is safeguarded in a manner that he demonstrated that he was firm, and that he would deal with the matter in a manner which is consistent with the time tested values and traditions of the people of Dagbon.
One can only hope and pray that when he eventually gives his ruling it will be respected by the feuding parties in Dagbon in order to allow for sustainable peace to remain in Dagbon and in order that there is no shift of national focus from some of the unpleasant developments that we have witnessed.
Madam Speaker, the Otumfuo has
demonstrated, and I agree with Hon Members who spoke earlier, that other traditional rulers must emulate his example. Indeed, the uniqueness of the succession in Ashanti In many parts of the country, pardon me to use these words, we have seen a lot of chaos associated with the chieftaincy institution because people who are undeserving would normally use other means to get themselves onto the throne, undermining the time-tested respected traditions and values of the people and that has brought in its wake unending conflicts, unending mistrust and unending suspicion in those traditional areas.
I think it is important that as we join him in commending and lauding him on the 10th anniversary of his reign in this important chieftaincy institution, the rest of our Ghanaian chiefs would have some useful lessons to learn.
Madam Speaker, may I end by commen- ding on his initiative in supporting national development efforts through his initiative for supporting education. His popular education fund is available to all persons. Needy and brilliant students across the
country, regardless of their ethnic colour, are entitled to benefit from it in so long as they observed and in so long as they demonstrate a determination to pursue education. Also in other areas he has demonstrated concern for safeguarding our environment and also improving healthcare.
Madam Speaker, I personally respect and admire him because at any time that there have been disturbances in Dagbon, in particular, he would always take particular interest in knowing what the root causes were and what should be done immediately using his machinery and other machinery in order to reach out to the feuding parties.
May I commend, once again, the Hon Member who made the Statement, and wish Otumfuo well, God's guidance and good health, and hope that our traditional rulers elsewhere will learn from his very unique and inspiring example.
I thank you, Madam Speaker.
