The National House of Chiefs has proposed being placed directly under the Presidency at Jubilee House, arguing that its current administrative placement under a government ministry undermines its constitutional independence and operational effectiveness.

The proposal was made during an appearance by the leadership of the House before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Chieftaincy, Culture, and Religious Affairs.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, President of the National House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, explained that since the PNDC era, the institution has been moved between various ministries and is currently under the Ministry of Local Government.

He stated that this arrangement subjects the House to shifting policy directions depending on the government in power, thereby affecting its autonomy.

To resolve this issue, the House is proposing an interim arrangement to be placed directly under the Presidency at Jubilee House, alongside a dedicated budgetary allocation similar to other independent constitutional bodies like the Electoral Commission.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II emphasized that this transition would strengthen the institution's independence and protect its constitutional mandate from political interference.

“Why should we be working under a ministry in the first place? Currently, we are under the Ministry of Local Government. So you realise that, depending on the policy direction or the thinking of the government in power, we are often moved around," Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II said.

"We are not happy about that. That is why we are recommending that even before we are made fully independent as a body and granted budgetary allocation, as is done for, say, the Electoral Commission or any other commission, we should be placed directly under Jubilee House because we are an independent body."