Cape coast: The Amugo-Vego Traditional Area, located in the Keta Municipal of the Volta Region, organized a judicial capacity building workshop aimed at training chiefs and traditional leaders on chieftaincy laws. The purpose of the workshop was to provide the chiefs with essential legal knowledge pertaining to chieftaincy laws, governance duties, and administrative requirements necessary for exercising chiefly authority within the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, the workshop was held at Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui's Palace in Anyako and was attended by paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, sub-chiefs, queen mothers, and various other traditional leaders from communities under the jurisdiction of the Amugo-Vego Traditional Area. Mr. Ikililu Mohammed, the Registrar, emphasized the importance of bridging knowledge gaps in chieftaincy law, aiming to strengthen the capacity of rulers to operate lawfully with constitutional backing.
Mr. Mohammed outlined the importance of the gazette process for chiefs, highlighting that chiefs not gazetted by the Government of Ghana are not recognized as legitimate traditional rulers at national and regional levels. He clarified that although an ungazetted chief may exercise customary authority within their community, they are legally restricted from performing official administrative roles, signing official documents, or representing their traditional area where state recognition is required.
The workshop provided a detailed explanation of the gazette process, including proper documentation of customary installation, endorsement and submission through District and Regional Houses of Chiefs, and the final publication in the Ghana Gazette. It was made clear that ungazetted chiefs cannot sit on judicial committees of Houses of Chiefs, adjudicate chieftaincy disputes before constitutionally recognized bodies, or exercise administrative authority beyond customary practices.
Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, the Dufia of Anyako-Konu and Paramount Chief of the Amugo-Vego Traditional Area, expressed gratitude for the training, acknowledging that many chiefs previously had limited understanding of the distinction between customary and formal state recognition. He described the initiative as long overdue, noting that the lack of legal knowledge had previously led to avoidable disputes and administrative issues. He urged other traditional areas to follow this example and encouraged chiefs to undergo the gazette process if they have not yet done so.
The participating chiefs committed to raising awareness among community members about the importance of the gazette as a foundation for transparent, accountable, and legally sound traditional governance within the Amugo-Vego Traditional Area.