The Parliamentary Select Committee on Chieftaincy, Cultural and Religious Affairs has embarked on a familiarization visit to some key institutions, namely the Ministry of Local Government, the Christian Council, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts.
The purpose of the visit was to gain insight into their roles, challenges, and to explore how the committee can best offer its support.
In his remarks, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, emphasized that a major issue being addressed is the resolution of chieftaincy disputes.
He highlighted that the government is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness. A notable achievement, he noted, was the decision to ensure that a ruling party member does not chair the committee—a move aimed at avoiding partisan decisions and ensuring fairness in resolving chieftaincy disputes. According to him, “Mr. Chairman, we will put our political affiliations aside to confront these matters in a neutral, impartial, and transparent manner; once we do that, we will be able to resolve most of our chieftaincy issues.” He highlighted sanitation as one of the core municipal functions under his Ministry and urged the Committee to work closely with the Government to help sustain the National Sanitation Day exercise across the various MMDAs.
During the committee’s visit to the Christian Council of Ghana, the Chairman, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hillard D. Dogbe stated that although the Council has established standards and entry requirements for membership, it does not have absolute control over rogue pastors, a major challenge that could bring the image of the institution into disrepute. He therefore called for self-regulation within the religious community and urged parliamentarians to refrain from endorsing rogue pastors, as such endorsements give them the zeal to continue operating with the impression that they have official support.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts Dzifa Abla Gomashie, urged Ghanaians to celebrate, support, and protect our culture, as it not only generates income but also sets us apart from the rest of the world, giving visitors a reason to return. “Our uniqueness is reflected in our food, clothing, fashion, and heritage “she noted. The Minister expressed hope that the Ministry will be supported in its efforts to secure the recognition and resources it deserves to be able to do more.
The Chairman of the Committee,Fred Kyei Asamoah, commended the institutions for the good work done and gave the assurance that the committee would not be an armchair body, but rather an action-oriented one and would work closely to achieve results for the betterment of the country.
