Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong has asked chief in the Eastern region to prioritize peace.
He stated that pockets of chieftaincy disputes were fast impeding developments in the region.
In his estimation processes leading to getting the right heir to occupy chieftaincy positions have usually been associated with violence, which has led to loss of lives, resources and properties, in some instances.
He made these observations to representatives of National and Regional House of Chiefs at the ongoing Eastern Regional Coordinating Council meeting in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital.
He bemoaned the backburner role of chieftaincy institution to the country’s development.
‘‘Regrettably, chieftaincy institutions are gradually losing its hold in mobilizing the citizenry for development,’’he stated.
According to him, although the Eastern region is blessed with numerous natural resources, the inability of the region to resolve numerous chieftaincy issues keep rolling back efforts to improve upon the region’s fortune.
Meanwhile the President of the Eastern regional House of Chiefs, His Royal Majesty Nene Sakitey II, indicated that chieftaincy issues in the regional were being vigorously worked on.
He however mentioned that the lack of resources to facilitate the work of the regional house of chief was a major setback to their efforts.