The Omanhene of Domeabra Traditional Council, Baffour Owusu Bediako, has urged traditional rulers to take active part in the upcoming general elections by scritinising the policy proposals of the various political parties and candidates.
According to him, without conflicting with Article 276 of the 1992 Constitution, the policies of any party that will be elected to form the next government will directly affect the lives of the people they lead; thus, the need to ensure that the right policies that will be of greater benefit to the people is supported.
Explaining the reason behind this statement, the Omanhene was emphatic that election 2024 is a determinant factor to the progress or otherwise of the country.
According to Article 276 of the 1992 Constitution, 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.
Baffour Bediako argued that though traditional authorities do not have the legal backing to mount political platforms, they will not sit unconcerned for their legacy to be destroyed.
According to the Domeabra paramount chief, in the upcoming polls, chiefs will lead the campaign, not by mounting the political stage but through the scrutiny of policies of all parties and offering cogent advice to their subjects.
The Paramount Chief made these pronouncements when the running mate and Ashanti regional chairman for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) paid a courtesy call on Baffour Owusu Bediako.
Touting the massive projects and policies of the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration, he re-echoed policies such as the Free Senior High School and 1-D-1-F among others, adding that these policies have had a positive impact on the people.
“This programme by the NPP government has helped put money in the pockets of the chiefs… I once visited the Domeabra SHS and looking at the numbers there, I asked myself: Would I be able to afford fees of 1/10 of the population here?
That was when I actually realised how important it is to support this policy,” Baffour Owusu Bediako further explained.
The chief also talked of the road projects in his jurisdictions and called for speedy work on them.
He also encouraged the constituents to ensure the retention of the Member of Parliament for the Asante Akyem North constituency, Andy Appiah Kubi.
He expressed appreciation to the NPP running mate, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, for the respect given to the people of the traditional area.
Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, also known as NAPO, re-echoed the party’s vision of effective partnership with traditional authorities in the governance of the country.
In his view, Nananom remain development originators, and it was important that the NPP kept a closer partnership with them.
According to NAPO, the purpose of his visit was to seek cogent advice from Nananom and, ultimately remind them that the NPP still remains the best political party in the country.
In a show of unity of purpose, the running mate spoke highly of the MP for the area, Andy Appiah Kubi, and urged that he is maintained in the interest of the constituency and the country’s development.
