In a significant policy announcement, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has unveiled plans to provide living allowances to paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, and queen mothers. This initiative is part of a broader effort to empower the chieftaincy institution and enhance its role in governance and community development.
Speaking on the importance of financially supporting the chieftaincy institution, Dr. Bawumia stated, “To enable the chieftaincy institution to truly play its proper role, it needs to be financially resourced. You can’t give them responsibilities without providing the necessary resources. The recommendation, which we will include in our manifesto, is to ensure that we pay living wages to the chieftaincy institution.”
Dr. Bawumia highlighted the current financial challenges faced by chiefs, noting that paramount chiefs receive only GHS 1,000 per month, an amount insufficient to cover basic expenses like attending meetings. He emphasized the need for equitable support, pointing out that there is currently no financial provision for queen mothers or divisional chiefs.
“We need to pay living allowances to the paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, and queen mothers. If we do this, the chieftaincy institution will be empowered to take decisions that help the government. I want us to be close, and that’s why I am proposing that, even in the mining areas, chiefs become part of the district mining committee. No mining license can be given without the chiefs knowing about it right from the beginning,” Dr. Bawumia added.
This proposed initiative aims to strengthen the chieftaincy institution by providing financial stability, enabling chiefs and queen mothers to fulfill their roles more effectively and contribute to national development. The announcement has been met with interest as it promises to integrate traditional leadership more closely with governmental functions.
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Dr. Bawumia has announced plans to pay living allowances to paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, and queen mothers.
This initiative aims to empower the chieftaincy institution to perform its role more efficiently.
pic.twitter.com/7G0QzfEMCv— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) June 5, 2024