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The President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, says his outfit is in talks with the government for the latter to pay all paramount chiefs in Ghana a monthly salary.

According to him, their demand is based on the fact that paramount chiefs contribute meaningfully to the development of the country, and, therefore, deserve a reward from the state.

Checks done by The Chronicle revealed that paramount chiefs in the country were on state-sponsored allowances, but this was not coming as frequently as it should.

The Chronicle could, however, not tell whether these allowances have now ceased coming or not.

Togbe Afede, who was speaking at General Meeting of the Asogli Traditional Council in Ho recently, did not make reference to the nonpayment of the allowances and why chiefs are now forcing the government to place them on her payroll.

Togbe Afede, who is also President of the Asogli Traditional Council, was also quiet on the amount they are demanding from the government as a monthly salary. 

The Chronicle investigation reveals that there about 366 paramount chiefs in Ghana. The regional breakdown is as follows: Ashanti – 60, Volta/Oti – 64, Western and Western North – 22, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo – 50, Upper East – 18, Central – 34, Greater Accra -13, Upper West – 32, Northern, Savana and North East – 62.  Eastern – 11, (Akyem Abuakwa, Akyem Kotoku, Akyem Bosome, Akuapim, Kwahu, Boso, Anum, Yilo, Manya, Akwamu, and New Juabeng.)

If these chiefs are to be paid the same amount as members of Parliament (MPs) are currently receiving, the government would be compelled to fork-out thousands of Ghana cedis every month to take care of them.

But this is not the only demand being made by the National House of Chiefs.

According to Togbe Afede, the chiefs are also pushing hard for laws to be formulated to restore powers that had been taken away from them. He, however, explained that such powers, when given back, would be exercised only by paramount chiefs.

The President of the National House of Chiefs further told his people that his outfit was working hard to ensure that all traditional areas have documentation on succession plans, which should be made available to the various regional houses of chiefs and copies sent to the National House of Chiefs.

According to Togbe Afede, in the preparation of the document, the principle of fairness and honesty must be observed. “I am appealing to traditional areas to take time and ensure consultations, in order to ensure a credible succession line in the chieftaincy institution, and a situation where only two persons would hide themselves and prepare such document would not help the purpose for which we want the documentation,” he said.

He stressed the need for the various traditional councils to cooperate with the National House of Chiefs in adopting strategies that would eliminate chieftaincy conflicts in the country.

Togbe Afede disclosed that the National House of Chiefs had also established a Common Fund for all the 16 regional houses of chiefs.

He, however, explained that chiefs in the newly-created regions would still be attending meetings in their former regions until the formation of their respective regional houses of chiefs.

He pointed out that the common fund for the chiefs is to help bring financial freedom to the various regional houses of chiefs.

This means the houses of chiefs would no longer depend on the government for financial support before carrying out their programmes and activities.

Togbe Afede continued that the National House of Chiefs was working hard to ensure that the Attorney General’s Department becomes responsible for the selection of counsel for the various regional houses of chiefs and the corresponding payments, adding that the House is also making the necessary efforts to ensure that the government pays paramount chiefs a monthly salary for the work that they do.