OVERVIEW/PROFILE OF THE NATIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS
In accordance with Article 271 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 1 of the Chieftaincy Act 759, the National House of Chiefs consists of five (5) Paramount Chiefs from each region elected by the Regional Houses of Chiefs. The total membership of the House is therefore fifty (50).
However, where there are fewer than five (5) Paramount Chiefs in a Region, the House of Chiefs of the region shall elect the number of Divisional Chiefs as shall make up the required representation of chiefs from the Region.
The National House of Chiefs has a President and a Vice President who are elected by the members of the House from among their number. The Vice President acts as the Head of the House in the absence of the President and performs the functions of the President accordingly.
A person elected President, Vice President or a member of the National House of Chiefs shall hold office for four (4) years and on the expiration of the term of office eligible for re-election except that a person shall not hold office as President or Vice President for more than two terms in succession.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS
The National House of Chiefs was established in the year 1969 under the 1969 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and was formally inaugurated by the Presidential Commission in Kumasi and it was subsequently maintained under the 1979 and 1992 Constitutions of the Republic.
The Headquarters of the House is located at Manhyia in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The House is among other things, mandated to undertake the progressive study, interpretation and codification of customary laws with a view to evolving in appropriate cases a unified system of rules of customary laws and shall perform such other functions not being inconsistent with any functions performed by the House of Chiefs of a Region as Parliament may by or under an Act of Parliament confer on it or otherwise refer to it.
Article 273 if the 1992 Constitution states that, the National House of Chiefs shall have appellate jurisdiction in any matter relating to chieftaincy which has been determine by the House of Chiefs in a Region, from which appellate jurisdiction there shall be an appeal to the Supreme Court with the leave of the National House of Chiefs, or the Supreme Court.
PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSE
Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, Asantehene became the first President of the House and remained so until his death in 1971.
The full list of the Presidents of the House from 1969 to date is as follows;
| NAME OF PRESIDENT | YEAR IN OFFICE |
| 1. Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, Asantehene | 1969 – 1971 |
| 2. Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, Asantehene | 1971 – 1974 |
| 3. Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, Asantehene | 1974 – 1978 |
| 4. Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu , Dormaahene | 1978 – 1982 |
| 5. Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, Asantehene | 1982 – 1986 |
| 6. Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, Asantehene | 1986 – 1989 |
| 7. Togbe Adza Tekpor VI, Osie of Avatime | 1989 – 1992 |
| 8. Odeneho Oduro Numapau II, Essumejahene | 1992 – 1995 |
| 9. Odeneho Oduro Numapau II, Essumejahene | 1995 – 1998 |
| 10. Osagyefo (Dr.) Kuntunkununku, Okyenhene | 1998 – 1999 |
| 11. Naa (Dr.) Puoure Puobe Chiir, Nandon Naa (Ag) | Feb – July 1999 |
| 12. Odeneho Boamponsem III, Denkyirahene (Ag) | 1999 – 2001 |
| 13. Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, Sefwi Bekwaehene | 2001 – 2004 |
| 14. Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, Sefwi Bekwaehene | 2004 – 2008 |
| 15. Wulugu Naba Pugansoa Naa Prof J. S Nabila | 2008 – 2012 |
| 16. Wulugu Naba Pugansoa Naa Prof J. S Nabila | 2012 – 2016 |
| 17. Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Ho Asogli | 2016 – Date |
Until 1978 when Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu I, Dormaahene became the President of the House, the position of the President was the preserve of the Asantehene. Since then, the House has seen several Presidents with the current one being Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Ho Asogli who took office on 24th November 2016.
PAST REGISTRARS
The House has a Registrar who is in charge of the General Administration of the House and reports to the President. The first Registrar for the House was Mr. R.Y Okyiri who administered the House from 1971 to 1973.
Below is the list of Registrars/Ag Registrars of the House from 1971 to date;
| NAME OF REGISTRAR | YEAR IN OFFICE |
| 1. Mr. R.Y. Okyiri | 1971 – 1973 |
| 2. Mr. J.J. Clement | 1973 – 1975 |
| 3. Mr. H. E. Nogbey ( Ag) | 1975 – 1977 |
| 4. Mr. S. K. Mireku | 1977 – 1988 |
| 5. Mr. Kusi Ankrah (Ag) | 1988 – 2002 |
| 6. Mr. F. E. Nuamah | 2002 – 2007 |
| 7. Mr. S. R.Takyi (Ag) | 2007 – 2013 |
| 8. Mr. A. K. Essien | 2013 – Date |
