Our traditions are modern, our modernities traditional. Chiefs continue to hold a symbolic cultural role in most african countries, but we. This sprawling collection of essays, originally assembled for a conference in accra funded by the ford foundation, provides a fascinating, albeit uneven, look at the contemporary issues facing the institution of chiefs in ghana. Chieftaincy which revolves around ethnicity is generally considered as one of the major source of conflict in ghana.
Pdf religion and chieftaincy in ghana researchgate. The role of traditional institutions in political change and development policy briefings on drivers of change in ghana 4. Aug 18, 2015 in precolonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers. Kofi akosahsarpong features that a ministry of chieftancy will not only correct many an history wrongs but also help open up ghanas development process despite what some critics fear of its politicisation of the chieftaincy institution now the long quest was ending after centuries of marginalization in the development process by both the colonialists and ghanaian goverments. Impact of chieftaincy conflict on the economic status of. Public relations office new building, ground floor. Colonial, civilian or military have in one way or the other tried to influence the role of chiefs in political affairs. Examining the position of the chieftaincy institution in. Ministry of chieftaincy and religious affairs ministry of finance. The ghana civil service included the local government service until it was decoupled from the civil service by the passage of the local government act, 2016 act 936 to strengthen the concept of decentralisation in ghana. Culture, governance and development, edited by irene k. Asante mphil students, institute for development studies, university of cape coastghana abstract. He indicated that nationwide there were a total of 352 such disputes.
Furthermore, the paper argues that chieftaincy in ghana is the custodian of customary values and norms, one of the few resilient institutions that have survived all the three phases of ghanas political history. These varied according to how the rulers were chosen. Please provide information on the possibility of relocation in ghana. When the republic of ghana was founded in 1957, it was agreed that the chieftaincy system should be. Chieftaincy disputes are the misunderstanding, that occurs between two or more fractions on the enstoolment or enskinment of a chief or the misunderstanding between an incumbent chief and some of his subjects.
Ghanas political system combines competitive elections with what social scientists have called neopatrimonial rule. The instrument covering the establishment of the house was enacted on the 17th september, 1971, that is the chieftaincy act 1971 act 370. Pdf chieftaincy and the attainment of sustainable development. Chieftaincy is one of the oldest and highly cherished institutions in ghana. In ghana, this position is guaranteed under the fourth republican constitution 1992. Largescale land acquisition in africa has been the concern and the focus of growing global literature on land grabbing. When the akan were settling in the tekyiman region, in the period before 0, they had already long used the chieftaincy system. The role of traditional institutions in political change and development. Pdf based on extensive research in primary and secondary sources and on field research in ghana, including more than 40 interviews, and.
The upswing in biofuel investments in ghana led to largescale land acquisitions by the private sector presided over by chiefs. Finally, the way forward will be discussed and some conclusions drawn. Origin of chieftaincy in ghana in the main, chieftaincy in ghana originated from three sources abotchie in odotei and. Since independence, chiefs have lost virtually all the. Apr 26, 2006 20060426 otumfuor nana osei tutu ii, a role model for african chiefs i article 277 of the 1992 constitution of ghana defines. Since the colonial era, the institution has been linked to ghanaian. The ghana news agency gna was established on march 5, 1957, i. The author gives an account of the indigenous language patterns of the different ethnic groups, their social customs and distinctive customs. Chieftaincy as an important social institution which binds the people together is fraught with numerous disputes. Brempong 2001 was one of the first to highlight this phenomenon by indicating that many paramount chiefs in ashanti are high level professionals or university graduates. The ghanaian chieftaincy is nobodys creation and therefore cannot be easily destroyed. In some african societies, chieftaincy the precolonial institution of. Chieftaincy in ghana emerged from the social fabric of the land.
The institution is so close to the hearts of people and useful as an instrument of government that governments since independence have scrupulously avoided any unwarranted interference with it and have either left it alone or provided specifically for its existence. Chieftaincy and religious affairs 31 ii 2019 budget estimates to purchase copies of the statement, please contact the public relations office of the ministry ministry of finance public relations office new building, ground floor, room 001 and 003 p. The aim of this study is to analyse the dynamics of dagbon chieftaincy conflict in northern ghana and to examine how rwandans. Because chieftaincy is also closely associated with custodianship of land, the dispute about who is the rightful occupant of the chiefly office is ultimately linked to disputes over control over resources like land, water, etc. In the view of kendie and bukari 2012, ghana has often been described internationally as one of the most stable, democratic and. A major development, however, as pointed out by hagan 2006 is the numerous conflicts associated with the chieftaincy institution. Pay close attention to latent conflicts embedded in chieftaincy, party politics, land disputes and other causes of instability in southern ghana as well. Hidden under the issues of chieftaincy and title for land are deep resentments based on perceptions of economic and political inequalities, social and cultural prejudices, and competition for limited resources. When the republic of ghana was founded in 1957, it was agreed that the chieftaincy system should be respected. The paramount chief held a position that can be compared to that of an absolutist king. Accepted 17 february, 2012 it is widely argued that chiefs do not play any meaningful role in local government in ghana as they. The goal of the ministry is to harness, develop and maximize the utilization of chieftaincy and traditional assets and values to serve as a basis for wealth creation and sociocultural empowerment. Degree in religious studies from the university of cape coast and mba from ghana institute of management and public administration gimpa.
Chieftaincy and traditional assets and values to serve as a basis for wealth creation and sociocultural empowerment. Apart from the constitutional guarantee, chieftaincy also has a tremendous effect on the political economy of ghana and influences industrial development, agricultural productivity, and the construction industry. Chieftaincy plays a key role in local governance news ghana. In precolonial times, leadership was the axis of executive, legislative and judicial powers. In an indepth interview with emmanuel bombande, executive director of the conflict resolution think tank west african peace building network, irin looks at why northern ghana has been blighted by a spate of violent chieftaincy disputes, and what risks this poses to. A qualitative study of chieftaincy and local government in ghana kwame asamoah university of ghana business school, legonaccra, ghana. Since the colonial era, the institution has been linked to the politics of ghana. The chieftaincy institution in ghana has been rocked by several conflicts due to land litigation, political polarization along gate lines and over succession to the chicfship position. In ghana the chieftaincy institution is an important ally of the state in ensuring devel. Chieftaincy and state relations in ghana since independence 51 of 15 members. Chieftaincy in ghana, like in other african countries, arose out of a need for leadership. Lessons from the sissala east district of the upper west region of ghana tanko daniel dawda department of social political and historical studies university for development studies p. In precolonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers.
However, the bulsa traditional area buluk of ghana has had a stable and resilient chieftaincy succession despite conflicts arising. Politics, chieftaincy and customary law in ghanas fourth. The larger and more hierarchical ethnic groups had traditional rulers long before british colonialism, and the british found it useful to generalize and support the. Chieftaincy and rural development in ghana since independence. Chieftaincy is indeed important to the people of ghana. Awedoba abstract this is a detailed survey of the sociodemographic patterns of the peoples who inhabit the northern half of ghana. The role of traditional institutions in political change. The main concern of this paper is to find out if indeed religion african. Among many human societies, the paramount reasons for. The chieftaincy institution in ghana is a system that structures and regulates the activity of local chieftains or monarchs in the ghanaian society and state. Despite the changing influence of chiefs in ghana, over 80% of land is. Reinventing african chieftaincy in the age of aids, gender, governance, and development calgary.
The national house of chiefs was established in 1969 under article 154 of the 1969 constitution. Ghana is often seen as peaceful, but is faced with many chieftaincy conflicts that result mainly from succession to the throne skin or stool for traditional political power. The institution is so close to the hearts of people and useful as an instrument of. The paramount chief had a position which can be compared to that of an absolutist king.
There are about twelve sections in this course and they include. The case of dagbon chieftaincy conflict, ghana abdul karim issifu joseph jnr. A religiocultural dilemma facing ghanaian christianity george sundagar moses wee george sundagar moses wee holds m. Pdf chieftaincy institutions and land tenure security.
Historical and political underpinnings of the dagbon chieftaincy conflict make it tougher and complicated to understand. Amongst the akan peoples of southern ghana, for instance. The role of chieftaincy in ghana iarticle 277 of the 1992 constitution of ghana defines a chief as a person, who, hailing from the appropriate family and lineage, has been. Initiate, formulate and ensure the efficient and effective implementation of policies. The gsgda ii contains one policy objective that is relevant to the ministry of chieftaincy and religious affairs. The general objective of this course is to introduce students to chieftaincy since very few people are conversant with the internal workings of that institution. Chieftaincy definition of chieftaincy by the free dictionary. Even though ghana is characterized more by a condition of stable peace than by conflict hughes 2003.
When the akan were settling in the tekyiman region, i. Of ghana entitled chieftaincy act, 2008 anact to revise and consolidate the chieftaincy act, 1971act 370 to bring its provisions in conformity with the constitution and to provide for related matters. It also examines how the chieftaincy institution changed through time. The 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana and chieftaincy act 2008, act 759 maintained the house. In order to do so, cooperate closely with civil society organizations in each region, harness their. Ghana has more than 230 chieftaincy disputes dotted across many parts of the country.
Pdf the role of chieftaincy institutions in dispute. Challenges and prospects in the 21st century the paper delineates what is seen as key challenges to the chieftaincy. Challenges of the collaboration between formal local. The chieftaincy institution is one of the oldest cultural and political heritages in africa. Act 759 chieftaincy act, 2008 3 a person aggrieved by a judgment or an order given or made by a traditional council in a cause or matter affecting chieftaincy may.
Mphil candidate, institute for development studies, university of cape coast, ghana. A qualitative study of chieftaincy and local government in. Chieftaincy institutions particularly in northern ghana is perceived as male institution. The paper delineates what is seen as key challenges to the chieftaincy institution in ghana. Ministry of chieftaincy and religious affairs ghana.
Jun 01, 2017 the minister for chieftaincy and religious affairs, mr. Constitution of ghana recognizes the institution of chieftaincy within its statutory. These 15 members comprised eight exofficio members, four elected members, and three specially elected members. Friedrichebertstiftung ghana, november 2010 district assemblies in ghana a guide to district assemblies in ghana a guide to. Official portal for chiefs, african traditional governance and leadership. Chieftaincy act, 2008 act 759 food and agriculture. The institution of chieftaincy, as a traditional leadership system among ethnic groups in ghana, is one of the revered customary legacies that survived colonial past and present independent political dispensation.
During the euphoric 1950s and 1960s, when expectations of modernity were rife,6. Ghanas political system combines competitive elections with what social scientists have called neo patrimonial rule. Africa, chieftaincy, colonialism, ghana, hybridity, legal pluralism, state. Samuel kofi dzamesi, has expressed concern about the high number of unresolved chieftaincy disputes. The politicisation of a chieftaincy conflict 5 for chieftaincy titles amongst ghanas new elite since the 1970s. Pdf on aug 5, 2018, vincent assanful and others published. Challenges of the collaboration between formal local government actors and the chieftaincy institution in ghana. Akan chieftaincy ghana encyclopedia article citizendium. Core functions the core functions of the ministry of chieftaincy and religious affairs are to. The role of chieftaincy in ghana iarticle 277 of the 1992 constitution of ghana defines a chief as a person, who, hailing from the appropriate family and lineage, has been validly nominated, elected or selected and enstooled, enskinned or installed as a chief or queen mother in accordance with the relevant customary law and usage. He was a former minister of the volta region under the government of president kufuor, and is national council member of the npp. Chieftaincy in ghana chieftaincy is one of ghana and africas enduring cultural heritage and institution, which is deeply rooted in the ethnicity of ghanaian tribes.
The government of ghana needs to strengthen the public sector land institutions and put in place stronger and binding mechanisms for resolving disputes arising from largescale acquisitions of land to cushion the effect of the weakening confidence in the chieftaincy institution. Ghana, development brokers, development aid, chieftaincy, contemporary history. Historical challenges in the form of colonial attempts to sidestep the institution and the attempts by the immediate post independence governments to subjugate and divest them of their economic strength through drastic laws, never cowed the institution. This research work attempts to explore how the chieftaincy institution in ghana assists in conflict resolution, why it has not been able to perform its conflict resolution roles as expected, and how best its functions can be improved. Overview of chieftaincy, categories of chiefs, chieftaincy and colonialism, chieftaincy and religion, chieftaincy and modern governance, chiefs and development. The role of traditional institutions in political change and. Amongst the akan peoples of southern ghana, for instance, the asantehene was once the ruler of an empire which dominated most of southern ghana and its eastern and western borderlands. Though chieftaincy conflicts occur in all parts of the country, those that have been accompanied. He has a first degree in engineering and holds a diploma in marketing. In ghana 80 percent of land is under the control of chiefs, with government in possession of 10 percent for public development. As part of the format, lead and collaborating agencies for the implementation of.
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