The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Suhum Madam Margaret Darko is advocating for the review of the law banning traditional rulers or chiefs from engaging in partisan politics.
The MCE said we are depriving chiefs of an opportunity to contribute to the development of Ghana by boxing them and using the law to prevent them from engaging in partisan politics.
She used the United Kingdom as an example to argue her case that they have successfully practised constitutional monarchy with the Queen as the Head of State.
However, it is the Souses of Parliament that make the laws, mot the monarch. The monarch only formally passes legislation. This is known as Royal Assent.
The MCE was optimistic that if we should allow our chiefs to be engaging in partisan politics, it would us transform.
Chiefs are not supposed to engage in active partisan politics as enshrined in Article 276 of the 1992 Constitution.
Section (1) of Article 276 states: “A chief shall not take part in active party politics, and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin.”
Section (2) of the same article goes further to state: “Notwithstanding clause (1) of this article and paragraph (c) of clause (3) of Article 94 of this Constitution, a chief may be appointed to any public office for which he is otherwise qualified.”
But the MCE says we cannot take out chiefs and religious leaders from the politics of Ghana and as a people, we must all agree that they need to be part of the politics of Ghana.
She prayed to say she is looking forward to a day we would have a Presby minister taking the role as a party chairman of the NPP or a chief elected to the highest position of a party office.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com
