The National House of Chiefs Building in the Ashanti Region, Kumasi has been commissioned on Friday, September 11, 2020.

The building was constructed in 1949 by Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyemang II to serve the Kumasi state and the Asanteman Council, and so when the Regional House of Chiefs was created in 1969, an office complex was needed which led to the donation of the building for the work of the House.

 

 

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was the Special Guest of Honor to lead the commissioning along with the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon Kofi Dzamesi. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah, and the President of the Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV were present at the ceremony. 

According to the President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, the idea of renovating the edifice came during the tenure of Prof. Nabila after seeing that the edifice was not equipped to conduct business for Nananom.

 

 

He explained that the building had many leakages at meeting halls with hanging wires and cobwebs which led to the establishment of a renovation committee to spearheads the effort of furnishing to honoring Asanteman.

“On assumption of office as the president of this house, I decided to merge the renovation committee into the newly structured finance committee to achieve our objective of renovating,” Togbe said.

 

 

He revealed that an amount of GH₵3.5m has been spent on the face-lift with support coming from various organizations, which includes, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Minerals Commission, National Commissions Authority, Strategic African Securities, Stanbic Bank, Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, National Investment Bank, Forestry Commission. Bank of Ghana, GOIL, Chamber of Mines, and Railway Involvement Ministry with an objective of restoring reverence to the noble chieftaincy institution by bringing dignity to the institution.

Togbe Afede XIV spoke that one important achievement recorded by the National House of Chiefs is the passage of the chieftaincy Act LI 2409, which defines membership of the 16 regional houses thanks to the support of the ministry of chieftaincy and government.

 

 

“We looking forward to adding an expanded membership come November 5 and luckily the renovation has meant than we have the capacity to take on all eighty members of this house.

“This is just the beginning of our attempt to modernize this very important institution. Going forward, we’ll focus on bringing more sanity to the chieftaincy font by disposing off the cases sitting in our books so that we can establish peace and unity in our front as our contribution to peace and unity in our country.”

 

 

The Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Kofi Dzamesi divulged that the president of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has authorized the payment of the GH₵3.5m cedis as a refund to the National House of Chiefs being expenses incurred on the renovated building.

He reflected on the government’s effort in assisting the House of Chiefs to ease their work for the benefit of Ghana.

 

 

“An amount of GH₵800,000 has been released by the government through the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to the contractor working on the national house of chiefs complex at Asenua in the Kwabre East District which I hope will soon be completed to solve the accommodation challenges that confronts members of the National House of Chiefs when they attend meetings in Kumasi, he addressed.

 

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“Also, government has released GH₵900,000 based on the budget of the regional house of chiefs to tackle chieftaincy cases.

“The NPP government is committed to the chieftaincy institution in Ghana ever since it assumed power knowing very well the role chiefs continue to play to bring peace development and national cohesion n in the country.

 

 

“That is why government in August last year donated vehicles (Land cruiser V8) to all presidents of the National and Regional House of Chiefs and Toyota pickups to their National and Regional registrars for administrative purposes. We have started donating same vehicles to the newly established six regional houses of chiefs,” he added.

The Ashanti Regional Minister outlined the role of Chiefs in the development of Ghana and how they continue to be major stakeholders in making and resolving issues affecting the country. He called on the need to revere their status as custodians of the land and the true inspiration of development.

 

 

He applauded them for their influence in resolving major disputes, which disturbed the peace of the country and pleaded on the need to bring to an end pending chieftaincy and land issues obstructing development

“The honor we give them is not just because of the stool or skin on which they find themselves but the role they play in the society, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah said.

 

 

“You cannot do or undertake any development without the involvement of our chiefs. Several disputes have been settled with the active involvement of the chief. Irrespective of the excellent work, our Chiefs have done for us so far we still have some disputes at hand to be resolved especially in the areas of chieftaincy and land disputes.

“We'll be grateful to you Nananom if these problems could be resolved and brought to the barest minimum to enhance the development of our country,” he ended.

 

 

The building among many offices contains an advanced conference hall and courtroom.