The Chief of Kotintabig, Naab Bileehsing Lanwont Namoog, has attributed the development challenges in Ghana's Upper East Region to the limited number of paramountcies. He argues that concentrating several divisional chiefs under a single paramountcy restricts representation and participation in the Regional House of Chiefs. This, he believes, hinders the region's growth and development. Naab Bileehsing made these comments on Bolga FM, a local radio station.
Naab Bileehsing, also a lecturer at Bolgatanga Technical University, questioned the rationale behind having a single paramount chief overseeing 32 divisional chiefs. He argued that this setup limits the ability of divisional chiefs to contribute effectively to deliberations at the Regional House of Chiefs. According to him, elevating some divisional chiefs to paramount status could increase development opportunities for communities by broadening their representation and advocacy for projects.
The Chief alleged that concerns about competition for positions and benefits associated with paramountcy may discourage the elevation of some divisional chiefs. He cited the example of Land Cruiser allocations and the regional presidency of the House of Chiefs as benefits that may be reserved for paramount chiefs. This, he believes, creates a disincentive for elevating deserving divisional chiefs.
Naab Bileehsing stressed that elevating a divisional chief would not diminish the authority of the paramount chief under whom the traditional area currently falls. He emphasized that he would still honor the paramount chief as the enskinning authority. The Chief questioned why qualified traditional areas and chiefs should remain at the divisional level when elevation could strengthen representation and contribute to development.
According to Naab Bileehsing, the issue of limited paramountcies was previously raised in the presence of the Upper East Regional Minister and President John Mahama. The President reportedly expressed surprise at the number of paramountcies in the Upper East compared to the Upper West Region. Naab Bileehsing recalled that the President wondered why the Upper East could not have more paramountcies like the Upper West Region, which has 32.
Naab Bileehsing called for greater attention to the elevation of eligible divisional chiefs, arguing that broader traditional representation could strengthen deliberations and advocacy for development in the Upper East Region. He believes that this could lead to more development opportunities for communities. The Chief's comments were reported by A1 Radio, a local media outlet.
The issue of limited paramountcies in the Upper East Region has sparked debate about the region's development challenges. Naab Bileehsing's comments have been echoed by some who believe that a more decentralized chieftaincy system could lead to more effective representation and development. However, others may argue that the current system has its advantages and that changes should be carefully considered.
Key points
- Limited paramountcies hinder development in Ghana's Upper East Region - Chief
- Elevation of divisional chiefs could increase development opportunities - Naab Bileehsing
- President John Mahama expressed surprise at the number of paramountcies in the Upper East Region
