National House of Chiefs


The National House of Chiefs is the highest body in Ghana that unites all traditional rulers, chiefs and kings. The institution has backing from the Constitution of Ghana.

Membership

The various rulers of Ghana's numerous tribes and clans automatically become members of a number of regional houses of chiefs. It is their membership of these regional bodies that qualifies them for membership of the national house.
In addition to these chiefs, a number of queen mothers are also appointed to the national house as associate members. These titleholders are appointed for four-year terms, and are eligible for re-appointment thereafter.
Although the national and regional houses are dominated by citizens of Ghana, they are affiliated with a number of foreign nationals. The African-American religious leader Ra Un Nefer Amen, for example, serves as the U.S. representative of the chiefs in congress assembled. He himself holds a Ghanaian chieftaincy in his own right.

Presidents of NHC

Since the creation of the National House of Chiefs, a president and his vice-president have been selected from among the members of the house to direct their affairs. The practice first started in 1969.
PresidentTitleYear
1Otumfour Agyemang Prempeh IIAsantehene1969 – 1970
2Otumfour Opoku Ware IIAsantehene1970 – 1978
3Osagyefo Agyemang Badu IDormaahene1978 – 1982
4Otumfour Opoku Ware IIAsantehene1982 – 1989
5Torgbe Adja Tekpor VIOsie Avatime1989 – 1992
6Nana Oduro Nimapau IIEsumejahene1992 – 1998
7Osagyefo Kuntunkunuku IIOkyehene1998 – 1999
8Dr. Poure Puobe VIINandom1999 – acting
9Odeefuo BoaponsemDenkyirahene1999 – 2001
10Odeneho Gyapong Ababio IISefwi-Bekwaihene2001 – 2008
11Prof. Naa John S. NabilaWulugu Naba2008 – 2016
12Togbe Afede XIVAgbogbomefia2016 –Present