The Chief of Kotintabig under the Sakoti Traditional Council in the Nabdam District, Naab Bileehsing Lanwont Namoog, says the failure to elevate some divisional chiefs to paramount status is limiting development opportunities in the Upper East Region.
Speaking on Bolga FM, Naab Bileehsing, who is also a lecturer at Bolgatanga Technical University, argued that concentrating several divisional chiefs under a single paramountcy limits representation and participation in the Regional House of Chiefs.
“Why would one paramount chief superintend over 32 divisional chiefs? How will you grow? If we expand, you see why development can grow,” he said.
He alleged that concerns about competition for positions within the Regional House of Chiefs and benefits associated with paramountcy may discourage the elevation of some divisional chiefs.
“Because if they elevate you, you also get a Land Cruiser, or if they elevate you, you will come and contest me as the regional president of the House of Chiefs,” he said.
Naab Bileehsing argued that divisional chiefs could contribute more effectively to deliberations at the Regional House of Chiefs if more traditional areas were elevated to paramount status.
He further contended that creating additional paramountcies could increase development opportunities for communities by broadening their representation and ability to advocate for projects.
“Assuming if I’m elevated to paramount status and Sakoti is given three schools to be built, I will also be given three to build. Is it not development? But if I am not elevated, Sakoti will take the three and come and share the three among his divisional chiefs. Is it helpful?” he asked.
Naab Bileehsing stressed that elevating a divisional chief would not necessarily diminish the authority of the paramount chief under whom the traditional area currently falls.
“If you elevate, I’m not coming to take [your place]. I will still honour you as the enskinning authority,” he said.
He questioned why qualified traditional areas and chiefs should remain at the divisional level when, in his view, elevation could strengthen representation and contribute to development.
Naab Bileehsing said the issue had previously been raised in the presence of the Upper East Regional Minister and President John Mahama.
According to him, the President expressed surprise at the number of paramountcies in the Upper East compared with the Upper West Region.
“The Regional Minister was there. We talked about this elevation. And the President made it clear that he is surprised. Because if Upper West can have 32, what is making us not grow?” he said.
Naab Bileehsing therefore called for greater attention to the elevation of eligible divisional chiefs, arguing that broader traditional representation could strengthen deliberations and advocacy for development in the Upper East Region.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | David Azure | Bolgatanga
