Chieftaincy Ministry shouldn't have written the letter - Atuguba on Akufo-Addo-chiefs saga

The Dean of the University Of Ghana School Of Law, Raymond Atuguba has disapproved of the Ministry of Chieftaincy for justifying the President's request for chiefs to stand when greeting him.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday, May 2, he said the Chieftaincy Ministry should know better and should not have released a letter justifying the President’s request.

The comment is in response to a statement by the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng explaining that the President’s request “is not intended to undermine the dignity or autonomy of traditional leaders."

Recently, an incident occurred at a ceremony in Damongo, where President Akufo-Addo's bodyguards instructed a traditional ruler to stand up and greet him.

Before this, a video had surfaced showing President Akufo-Addo instructing chiefs at a funeral to rise before shaking hands with him.

According to the statement signed by Mr Boateng, chiefs standing up to greet the President “is a recognition of their esteemed role in Ghanaian society by embracing the Head of State, thereby showing brotherly love and mutual respect.”

But responding to this, Prof Atuguba said chiefs hold absolute authority and power within their traditional domain and therefore deserve the utmost respect from the President.

“It shouldn’t be coming from the Chieftaincy Ministry.

They should know better.

They should know that whoever goes to the palace of the Asantehene should not expect the Asantehene to rise for him.

"They should know that whoever goes to the palace of the Okyehene should not expect the Okyehene to rise for him.

Whoever goes to the palace of the Yagbonwura should not expect the Yagbonwura to rise for him,” he said.

Prof Atuguba stated that the Constitution guarantees certain usages and customs, and anyone who visits a traditional domain must adhere to these customs.

According to him, every traditional chief, no matter how small their domain, holds authority and respect within their jurisdiction.

“The littlest chief in Ghana, when he or she presides over a traditional ceremony is boss and even the president within that traditional ceremony is subject to that littlest chief.

No, because that is a formal event that comes under Article 57(2) of the constitution.

"At that point, all the chiefs including the biggest chiefs in Ghana must rise for the president and the others in that order of precedence, he said.”