Desist from endorsing presidential candidates - Dr Seidu Daanaa tells chiefs

This follows the endorsing statements made by some traditional leaders especially to President Mahama and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Akufo Addo.

The most recent endorsement was during President John Dramani Mahama’s 'Accounting to the People' tour in the Upper East region. The Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Azoka Abugrago II, is reported to have appealed for the reconstruction of the Bolgatanga-Bawku Road and an irrigation dam.

The president who promised to fulfil their demands cut sod on Monday for both the road and dam to begin. The chief of the area therefore said through his spokesperson, “one good turn deserves another”. “If somebody does you good, we don’t return him with bad. It’s reciprocal. My yearnings have been fulfilled. Presidents have come and gone. Nobody has been able to satisfy my wishes and today you have come to do so. I’m dumfounded as to how to thank you. So, what do we do in return? One good turn deserves another. We should all vote for him in the upcoming elections to retain power,” he added.

The NPP’s Nana Addo was also recently endorsed by Tuobodomhene Nana Obeng Ameyaw Barimah II, when he paid a courtesy call on the chief during his tour in the region.

But Dr. Daanaa said such declarations by traditional rulers must be discouraged. “In our tradition if you go to a community, the right thing to do is to go to the palace to give respect to the traditional leaders. It (chiefs endorsing political leaders) is not to be encouraged, its not good for democracy,” he said.

He indicated that even though the National House of Chiefs has its own code of ethics, they do not reproach chiefs who violate the codes in public since the chieftancy role is a respected one in the Ghanaian society.

“The traditional rule systems, is such that you can’t condemn the chiefs in public. So we are careful in handling these things. When these things happen the ministry has a way of calling them to order, its just that we don’t do this openly,” he said.

He intimated that even though it is not wrong to have a choice among the flagbearers of the political parties an open declaration of support does not go down well with the ministry. He said his ministry keeps reminding the chiefs to abstain from such endorsements no matter who their favourite candidate is.

He said “the ministry will keep reminding that this shouldn’t be done. Proverbially if you have two sons you can recommend one, but not openly. It is not something that should be encouraged, it should be discouraged”.

A debate over the participation of chiefs and traditional leaders in active politics has been ongoing for a while. Especially considering the provision of Article 276 Clause 1 of the 1992 constitution which states that, “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”.