Six Queenmothers To Join House Of Chiefs

Queenmothers from six paramountcies in the Eastern Region on Monday attended a day�s seminar on the modalities for their selection into the Eastern Regional and the National houses of chiefs in Koforidua. The queenmothers, who were taken through some aspects of chieftaincy and roles to be played in the house were Nana Adwoa Gyamfua (Kwahu), Manye Korlekuor Adjado III (Yilo Krobo), Nana Yaa Daani (New Juaben), Nana Adutwumwaa Dokua (Akyem Abuakwa), Nana Akua Asantewa III (Akyem Kotoku) and Nana Kwantima Minkyem II (Akyem Bosome). Currently, only the paramount chiefs, all males, constitute members of the Eastern Regional and the National houses of chiefs and the queenmothers have persistently agitated for their inclusion in the houses. The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Dr Seidu Danaa, who addressed the queenmothers, said they were expected to play various important roles in the houses of chiefs that would help advance their traditional areas and Ghana in general. He said in view of the fact that not all the paramount queenmothers would be made members of the august house, his outfit, together with other stakeholders, would come out with a modality for selection. Dr Danaa, who also dwelt on some legal issues in that respect, was hopeful that the queenmothers would be able to assist the paramount chiefs in all aspects of deliberations to advance the chieftaincy institution. The Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, who also addressed the queenmothers, was not happy that most often, issues affecting women were relegated to the background and expressed the hope that the proposed admission of queenmothers to the houses of chiefs would go a long way in addressing issues affecting women. The Regional Minister dwelt on some issues relating to chieftaincy and made it clear that although the government would not involve itself in chieftaincy disputes, it would not allow such disputes to generate into chaos or anarchy.