Prez Mills presenting the cheque to Naa Professor Nabila
President John Evans Atta Mills has presented a cheque of GH¢500,000 to the National House of Chiefs (NHC) as seed capital for the establishment of the Ghana House of Chiefs Endowment Fund (GHOCEF).
President Mills made the presentation when the Standing Committee of the NHC, led by its Chairman, Wulugu Naba Pugansoa, Naa Professor John S. Nabila, paid a courtesy call on him to welcome him back home after visiting the United States for a routine medical check-up.
Thanking the chiefs for their prayers, support and warm wishes, President Mills said the chieftaincy institution was a revered one, and that the visit of the chiefs had raised the image of the institution.
According to President Atta Mills, the show of concern by the chiefs was testimony to the fact that they had the wellbeing of the nation at heart.
“I am touched by the show of concern and support, and I can assure you that God has given me more than enough energy for the task ahead,” President Mills said.
Touching on the elections, President Mills assured the revered traditional leaders that all would be done to ensure that the nation comes out of the elections with stronger democratic credentials.
“The election is not a do and die affair; and I can assure you that Ghana will remain in existence after the elections,” he said.
He noted that his doors were always open to the wise counsel of the NHC and that the chiefs should not hesitate to contact him anytime the need arose.
Naa Professor John S. Nabila assured the President of their continued support and prayers.
“It is our belief that the good Lord who made you our leader, will continue to take good care of you,” Naa Nabila said.
Thanking the president for supporting the Endowment Fund as well as the chieftaincy institution, Naa Nabila said the fund was being set up to “enhance the ability of the traditional authorities to fulfil their responsibility of ensuring peaceful relations among communities, ethnic groups and regions, beyond what is possible through the limited government budgetary allocations.”
The fund is also being set up to enhance the independence of the traditional authorities in order to strengthen their ability to promote national peace and stability.
According to the president of the House of chiefs, income generated by the fund would be used to underwrite programmes that were not adequately funded by government, as well as pursue educational and other special initiatives that would support the strengthening of the chieftaincy institution.
The initial target for the fund is GH¢3,000,000, with the aim of growing it to GH¢20,000,000 in the next 10 years.
Also touching on the elections, Naa Professor Nabila thanked the President for providing the Electoral Commission with the needed resources to effectively discharge its duties, and pledged the support of the chieftaincy institution to ensure that Ghana continued to be a beacon of democracy, peace, and stability.
Other members of the NHC Standing Committee who were at the Castle included Awulae Attibrukusu III, President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs and Vice President of the National House of Chiefs; Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, Kukuomhene and President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs; Daasebre (Prof) Oti Boateng, President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs; Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, Ada Mantse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs; Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Ho Asogli and President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, and Pe Charles Awia Awampaga II, Paga Pio and President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs.
