The Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom and President of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, has appealed to government to urgently facilitate the construction of a permanent office complex for the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs as part of efforts to strengthen traditional governance and development in the region.
The appeal was made in an address delivered on his behalf by Yiram Kpanbiwura Banbage Ndefeso at the first General Meeting of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs for 2026, held on Thursday, February 5, at the Jakpa Palace Conference Hall in Damongo.
The meeting was attended by the Savannah Regional Minister, Hon. Salisu Beawuribe, the Supervising High Court Judge of the Savannah Region, Justice Mark Diboro, Paramount and Divisional Chiefs, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), invited guests, and members of the media.
The Yagbonwura called for stronger unity among traditional authorities, reforms in customary practices, and increased government support to promote peace and development across the Savannah Region.
He emphasized that chiefs remain custodians of tradition and critical partners in national development and urged them to uphold dignity, unity, and non-partisanship in accordance with the Royal Code of Ethics and recent Supreme Court interpretations on chieftaincy and politics.
During the meeting, five Paramount Chiefs and one Divisional Chief were sworn into the House. They are Damongowura Seidu Kely Boresa I; Kpansheguwura F. A. Adams Borewunche I; Kulibuwura Osman Keli IV, Jantongwura Mahama Kebase I; Tuluwewura Purgi Budon I; and Nnaa Solomon Dompeeh Antwi (Jugboi Koro).
The Overlord congratulated the new members and reminded them that elevation to a stool or skin comes with greater responsibility and restraint.
Addressing peace and security, the Yagbonwura described peace as the foundation of development and expressed concern over persistent chieftaincy succession disputes, particularly in northern Ghana. He urged government to support the codification of customs and succession practices by the Houses of Chiefs, in line with Article 270 of the 1992 Constitution, to prevent avoidable conflicts.
He also called on chiefs to eliminate harmful customary practices as empowered under existing laws.
While commending the NDC government for initiatives such as the 24-Hour Economy, One Million Coders Programme, Stress-Free Fee Policy for first-year tertiary students, and the Nkɔntɔnketɛnketɛn Programme, the Yagbonwura raised concerns about challenges confronting the region.
Chief among them is the absence of a befitting office complex for the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs. He appealed for the expedited completion of the facility and, in the interim, called on MMDCEs to support the House financially to enable it to carry out its statutory functions.
He also expressed concern about persistent water shortages in Damongo and called for urgent government intervention.
In response, the Savannah Regional Minister, Hon. Lawyer Salisu Biawurbi, assured the House that all concerns and appeals would be forwarded to the appropriate government agencies for the necessary action.
Source: kashafmonline.com
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