Yagbonwura calls for stronger collaboration among traditional authorities to promote peace

Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom and President of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs, has called for stronger collaboration among traditional authorities across the country to promote peace, good governance and community development.

He said regular engagements among Traditional Councils and Regional Houses of Chiefs would provide opportunities for the sharing of experiences and the development of common solutions to challenges confronting communities.

The Yagbonwura made the call when addressing the chiefs and people of Anlo as the Special Guest of Honour at the 64th edition of the Hogbetsotso Festival at Anloga in the Volta Region on Saturday.

He said traditional authorities must also strengthen partnerships with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and other state institutions to promote development consultations, peacebuilding, environmental protection and community mobilisation.

He, however, stressed that such collaboration must operate within the respective constitutional and legal mandates of the institutions.

The Yagbonwura urged traditional leaders to rise above narrow interests and work collectively in the broader interest of the country.

On chieftaincy disputes, he expressed concern about disagreements over succession, customary authority and traditional boundaries, which he said could destroy relationships, delay development and threaten peace in communities.

He advocated stronger preventive measures and peaceful resolution of such disputes through dialogue, mediation and appropriate Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, in accordance with the law and customary practices.

He said traditional leaders had a special responsibility in resolving such disagreements because of their knowledge of customary practices, family histories and community relationships.

The Yagbonwura urged traditional authorities to promote a culture of dialogue rather than confrontation and place peace above personal interests.

He also called for the proper documentation of customary lines of succession in traditional areas to prevent uncertainty and disputes whenever traditional vacancies occurred.

He noted that although succession histories and procedures were often preserved through oral traditions and family knowledge, the absence of proper records could create challenges for future generations.

He therefore urged royal families, kingmakers, Traditional Councils, elders and other customary stakeholders to collaborate in documenting recognised succession histories, customary procedures and established precedents.

Such documentation, he said, would help preserve cultural heritage, guide future generations and minimise avoidable chieftaincy disputes.

The Yagbonwura appealed to the Government, through the Minister responsible for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, to provide financial support for the documentation exercise.