National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament of Bongo Constituency in the Upper East Region, Edward Abambire Bawa, has said contrary to widely accepted titles given to some traditional rulers in the country, there are no kings in Ghana.

According to the member of Parliament's Mines and Energy Committee, the constitution of Ghana does not allow traditional rulers to be called kings adding that Ghana is not running a monarchical political system as a  republic state.

Speaking on Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily show, Mr. Bawa said that any traditional ruler calling himself a king threatens the unity of the country.

Citing the chieftaincy Act, he said the laws of Ghana permits for the title ‘chief’ for traditional leaders who are also to act as development agents for the country.

“One thing I have always resisted is the title king. By our constitution, we have no kings in Ghana, we have Chiefs. We have Chiefdom, not Kingdoms, so when you begin to do that you threaten the whole country. We are all one. We are not in a monarch. We are not in a Kingdom. We are in a republic.”

Mr. Bawa also accused some traditional leaders of taking advantage of their elevated position in society to take advantage of their subjects.

He mentioned that problems of illegal mining have partly got to do with irresponsible traditional rulers who sell lands anyhow because they have assumed roles of tin-gods and are accountable to no one.

Mr. Edward Bawa also called for reforms of the Chieftaincy institution to meet changes of present times.