“Chiefs are instrumental agents of development and should not be caught up in the web of partisan politics. We need our chiefs to use their social networking and communications skills to attract development into their communities,” he said.

SDGs

Mr Pianim made the call at a lecture organised on “the role of traditional leadership in attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs).”

The lecture, which was organised in Accra last Tuesday by the Asante Professionals Club (APC), a voluntary association of independent professionals hailing from the
Asante Kingdom committed to the development of Asanteman.

The lecture brought together some professionals and traditional leaders who hail from the Asante kingdom.

Notable among them were the Omanhene of Asokore, Prof. Nana S. K. B. Asante, the Manwerehene of Atebubu, Nana Boakye Yiadom, Otumfuo’s Akomforehene, Oheneba Akwasi Abayie, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye and the Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr Kofi Boakye.

Mr Pianim stressed the need for chiefs to leverage their position as custodians of lands and leaders of their communities to promote development.

Re-introduction of taboos

Mr Pianim called on chiefs to use their moral authority to reintroduce taboos in their communities in order to preserve the environment from degradation.

He attributed the emergence of illegal mining (galamsey) partially to the absence of taboos in communities.

“Gone were the days when you could not fish on certain days because the river was a god. You cannot go to the farm on certain days because the land was a god.

“All these taboos were made to preserve our environment. We ignored these taboos and now our water bodies are dying. We cannot find clean water in Ghana now, because of galamsey.” Mr Pianim lamented.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adwutwum, said for the chieftaincy institution to remain relevant in democratic governance, there was the need to get the input of chiefs when drafting policies for development.

Chiefs and transformation

“The chiefs are determined to bring about transformation in their communities. For the government to be successful in developing the communities, it is crucial to involve them and get their input.

“You have to really get them to understand where the world is and bring them on board. Information has to be made available to them,” he explained.