President
Kabbah Recognises Executive Members Of The National
Council of Paramount Chiefs
By
Yusuf Alghali
11th
October 2003- His Excellency The President,
Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, today
had his inaugural meeting with the newly-established
National Council of Paramount Chiefs (NCPC),
following its official launching at the Atlantic
Hall of the National Stadium at Brookfields
in Freetown, Friday 9th October 2003, by the
Honourable Vice President Solomon E. Berewa.
The
launching ceremony as well as the President's
formal recognition of the National Council of
Paramount Chiefs took place as government prepares
to organise District Council elections early
next year, as part of its declared policy of
decentralisation of government's activities.
Addressing
some 149 Paramount Chiefs at the same venue
with their sub-chifs shortly
after the presentation of the newly- elected
nine-man executive of the NCPC by the Minister
of Local Government, Mr. Sidique Brima, President
Kabbah recalled an earlier address to traditional
rulers in various regions wherein he set out
government's policy on the institution of
Paramount Chieftaincy and plans to restore
the traditional role of Paramount Chiefs as
was practised before and after the advent
of colonial rule.
He
reminded his audience that the institution of
Paramount Chiefs was crucial both for national
development and state security, pointing out
that chiefs could make the country succeed or
fail, depending on how they administer and manage
chiefdom matters. He went on to point out that
the inputs and full participation of chiefs
were critical to the entire process of national
governance since the chiefdom constituted the
nucleus of overall State governance.
Dr.
Kabbah, who indicated that the institution of
Paramount Chiefs needed strengthening at this
point in time, went on to speak of a draft bill
that has been prepared towards a new Local Government
Act,relating to the institution of paramount
chiefs and the local government framework.
He
maintained that if all the rules and procedures
embodied in the new Act were followed to the
letter, the dreadful civil conflict experienced
in the past decade would never recur. Furthermore,
the President indicated that the local government
bill would incorporate an enabling authority
for the Head of State to declare Provincial
Headquarters such as Bo, Kenema and Makeni tobecome
cities. However, he noted that this might need
a gradual approacht in view of the nature of
costs to be involved.
While
encouraging chiefs to be transparent and respectful
to their chiefdom subjects, the Head of State
also remarked that those in leadership must
not appear to be selfish. "Respect is mutual
and it helps to consolidate peace," he
said, adding that chiefs must frame their actions
in such a way as not to create opportunities
for unpatriotic elements to destroy the country.
He
said in addition to the advisory role expected
of the council of chiefs, they should also
make it their business to be familiar with
what the central government was doing, since
Paramount Chiefs were at the first level of
governmental authority to which citizens relate
at the chiefdom level.
On
the role of tribal headmen in the Western
Area, the President made it quite clear that
theirs was limited only to advising the central
government on matters pertaining to the traditions
of their various ethnic groups resident in
Freetown and other urban centres other than
from which their ethnic group originally hailed.
He strongly cautioned against the holding
of courts by such tribal heads in Freetown,
describing the practice as illegal.
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Samuel M. Soloku
lll of Thorlie Chiefdom, Kono District, Eastern
Region, was elected Chairman of the National
Council of Paramount Chiefs, with Paramount
Chief Bai Koblo Queen of Marampa Chiefdom,
Port Loko District, Northern Region as Vice
Chairman. NCPC Secretary General is Paramount
Chief Isa Baimba Kamara-Koroma of Gallinese
Imperi Chiefdom, Pujehun District, Southern
Region, whilst the office of Financial Secretary
went to lady Paramount Chief Fatmata B.K.
Koroma Meama-Kajue of Dasseh Chiefdom, Moyamba
District, Southern Region.
-End-
