A member of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Naa John Domale has observed that the chieftaincy institution will continue to be a force to reckon with in the governance of the country.
He urged critics of the institution to dismiss perceptions that chieftaincy was no more important and should be abolished.
Naa Domale was speaking at a training workshop organised for members of the Regional House of Chiefs and staff as well as personnel from the Centre for National Culture in Wa on Tuesday.
The house in collaboration with sustainable Peace Initiative (SPI), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting peace in the three northern regions organised the forum, to build the capacity of chiefs on chieftaincy laws and judicial procedures and processes.
It was on the theme: "Improving knowledge and skills for efficient and effective service delivery."
Naa Domale who is also the Paramount Chief of the Duffiama Traditional Area and a Counsellor to the National House of Chiefs said governments had found the chieftaincy institution a very formidable partner in the governance and development of the country.
He said the 1992 constitution had given due recognition to the institution while some people were advocating a second house in parliament
for chiefs to help in the running of the country.
Naa Domale said the calibre of people who were now being enstooled or enskinned as chiefs in modern times, should tell all critics that the
institution was still important and would continue to contribute effectively to the maintenance of peace and good governance.
"The chieftaincy institution is not dying but would continue to grow
from strength to strength," he said.
Naa Sohemwinye Gori II, Paramount Chief said most of the chieftaincy disputes in the country were caused at the traditional council level.
He therefore urged chiefs who had benefited from the workshop to put what they had learnt into practice to help reduce the disputes.
Naa Gori also called for regular in-service training for chiefs and staff of the house to help them to upgrade their knowledge on the laws and
procedures of the chieftaincy institution.
Mr. J.S. Babinah, a representative of SPI said it was the desire of the organisation to support efforts that would bring lasting peace to
Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
He said the forum was to enlighten chiefs and the staff of the Regional House of Chiefs on the Chieftaincy Act 2008 and Act 759 and other
laws governing the chieftaincy institution.