President of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs calls for constitutional amendment

Nana Soglo Alloh IV, the Paramount Chief of the Likpe Traditional Area and President of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs, has called for an amendment to the 1992 Constitution before the upcoming general elections.

He proposes granting the Chief Justice the authority to administer the oath of office to newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) instead of the Speaker.

He pointed out the contradiction between Articles 95 and 100, which require MPs to elect a Speaker before taking their seats, yet the Speaker is tasked with swearing them in.

Nana Soglo also highlighted the overlooked role of traditional rulers in the country’s development and the challenges chieftaincy faces from competition with churches and politicians.

He cautioned against the destructive potential of chieftaincy disputes, citing the ongoing tensions in Nkwanta South and Bawku, and expressed hope that these conflicts won’t disrupt the upcoming elections.