Chiefs who desire to participate in party politics should renounce their chieftaincy titles, according to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
He claims that politics and chieftaincy cannot be mixed since chiefs are expected to serve a neutral role in their diverse communities.
“There is a line drawn between you as a chief, as a traditional leader, and the politician, because you are the fathers of your community, and in your community, you have people who will support the various political parties, and you should be a neutral person so that you can be a symbol of unity, that can bring your people together for development and peace.”
“We are here to settle amicably issues between both sides of political parties and must be straight with politicians so that we tell them what is wrong and right, and that is what we have to do and support the government of the day,” Otumfuo said of chiefs’ roles as settlers and mediators between political parties and supporters of the government of the day.
The call was made by Otumfuo when the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College paid him a visit as part of their yearly environmental trip, which this year focused on chieftaincy and local governance.
Rear Admiral Moses Beick- Baffuor, the force’s commander, expressed his gratitude for having been accepted in the palace, which allowed them to enhance their knowledge of chieftaincy and local governance.
He gave Otumfuo an update on the state of the Armed Forces, saying that the college currently has 85 students from Ghana and 11 other African countries grouped into four groups: Ashanti, Ahafo, Savannah, and Northern.
As they neared the end of their visit, Otumfuo lectured the party on the responsibilities of chiefs.
The entourage included the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah.
