Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate to former President John Dramani Mahama, flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2020 elections, has appealed to chiefs and queen mothers as well as all other traditional authorities to support and partner with governments for Ghana's accelerated development.

According to Professor Opoku-Agyemang, as the leaders at the local level, the chiefs are the embodiment of development and must be an integral part of the development drive.

Professor Opoku-Agyeman made the remarks when she together with a delegation led by the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo called on the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to seek their permission to tour the region.

She said: “We’ll always collaborate with our Kings and queen mothers and of course we intend to do the same as we go forward. So being here is to seek your support, seek your advice, seek your direction...it is about time we put our country first and all of us must come together. We know the role Greater Accra plays in our national affairs. The things we were able to do in our last administration is here for us all to see. Whether is about water, whether is about hospitals, whether is about roads, or schools or any development I know you are all aware and all we are asking for is an opportunity to do same.”

For his part, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Okwei Kinkan Dowuona Vl said it is high time politicians put Ghana first in every pursuit in order to bequeath a better Ghana to the next generation.

Nii Okwei Kinkan Dowuona Vl, also expressed worry over how politicians only recognise the importance of chiefs in the development drive during electioneering campaigns in their quest to canvas for votes and soon after neglect them.

Responding to the request from the NDC's running mate soliciting Chiefs and queens’ inputs in the development of Ghana, Nii Okwei Kinkan Dowuona Vl asked politicians to heed the advice of traditional rulers and stop considering them as illiterates.

He also advised the NDC's running mate to develop a big heart to accommodate insults and verbal attacks which have characterised Ghana's politics.

“…We call you to advise you [but] because we are illiterates you don’t listen to us, but the beauty of it is that we will not stop talking, we will keep on advising and we believe that now we are getting a listening ear and you are prepared to partner us, we are also prepared to partner you. When you are in power you see traditional leaders as able but when you leave power they are our chiefs. Naana Professor, you’re welcome and my personal advise to you is that the road before you is not straight, you’ll receive plenty insults but find a big stomach so when they insult you, you put it in there…”