The National House of Chiefs is the highest body in Ghana that unites all traditional rulers, chiefs and kings. The institution has backing from the Constitution of Ghana. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The various rulers of Ghana's numerous tribes and clans automatically become members of a number of regional houses of chiefs. It is their membership of these regional bodies that qualifies them for membership of the national house.
In addition to these chiefs, a number of queen mothers are also appointed to the national house as associate members. These titleholders are appointed for four-year terms, and are eligible for re-appointment thereafter.
Although the national and regional houses are dominated by citizens of Ghana, they are affiliated with a number of foreign nationals. The African-American religious leader Ra Un Nefer Amen, for example, serves as the U.S. representative of the chiefs in congress assembled. He himself holds a Ghanaian chieftaincy in his own right.
Since the creation of the National House of Chiefs, a president and his vice-president have been selected from among the members of the house to direct their affairs. The practice first started in 1969. [5]
President | Title | Year | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Otumfour Agyemang Prempeh II | Asantehene | 1969 – 1970 |
2 | Otumfour Opoku Ware II | Asantehene | 1970 – 1978 |
3 | Osagyefo Agyemang Badu I | Dormaahene | 1978 – 1982 |
4 | Otumfour Opoku Ware II | Asantehene | 1982 – 1989 |
5 | Torgbe Adja Tekpor VI | Osie Avatime | 1989 – 1992 |
6 | Nana Oduro Nimapau II | Esumejahene | 1992 – 1998 |
7 | Osagyefo Kuntunkunuku II | Okyehene | 1998 – 1999 |
8 | Dr. Poure Puobe VII | Nandom | 1999 |
9 | Odeefuo Boaponsem | Denkyirahene | 1999 – 2001 |
10 | Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II | Sefwi-Bekwaihene | 2001 – 2008 |
11 | Prof. Naa John S. Nabila | Wulugu Naba | 2008 – 2016 |
12 | Togbe Afede XIV | Agbogbomefia | 2016 –2020 |
13 | Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II | Sefwi Anhwiasohene | 2020-present |
The University of Ghana is a public university located in Accra, Ghana. It is the oldest public university in Ghana.
A House of Chiefs is a post-colonial assembly, either legislative or advisory, that is recognised by either a national or regional government as consisting of and providing a collective, public voice for an ethnic group's pre-colonial authorities. Although often influential within the indigenous culture, its members do not usually function as a modern nation's primary law-making body, being neither representative nor consisting of members appointed individually by the government in power, whether democratic or not. It consists of all or some of the "traditional leaders", historically kings and chiefs, of a country or a sub-division thereof.
The Constitution of Ghana is the supreme law of the Republic of Ghana. It was approved on 28 April 1992 through a national referendum after 92% support. It defines the fundamental political principles, establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties of the government, structure of the judiciary and legislature, and spells out the fundamental rights and duties of citizens. It is made up of 26 chapters, not including the preamble.
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"Ambassador Daniel Ohene Agyekum (USA)". Ghana Web. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2021.