These 15 members comprised eight exofficio members, four elected members, and three specially elected members. Chieftaincy institution, local government, administration, socioeconomic, cultural development in. An explanation of the persistence of a traditional. Maladministration of land and popular perceptions of chieftaincy in ghana, a large proportion of the land is socalled stool land, land vested in a stool2a customary communityon behalf of and in trust for the subjects of a. 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. Ministry of chieftaincy and religious affairs ghana. Although the paramountcy of chiefs was undone by colonial rule, traditional rulers have served as important adjuncts in the administration of postcolonial government in both africa and oceania. Chieftaincy is indeed important to the people of ghana.
The attorneygeneral, has unanimously decided that, even under the 1992 constitution, the high court and the court of appeal have no jurisdiction in chieftaincy matters. Overview of chieftaincy, categories of chiefs, chieftaincy and colonialism, chieftaincy and religion, chieftaincy and modern governance, chiefs and development. Awinsong moses allor awinsong is a history graduate student from feonamoo in ghana. Our traditions are modern, our modernities traditional. Apr 26, 2006 the role of chieftaincy in ghana prev. Finally, the way forward will be discussed and some conclusions drawn. A qualitative study of chieftaincy and local government in ghana kwame asamoah university of ghana business school, legonaccra, ghana.
Pay close attention to latent conflicts embedded in chieftaincy, party politics, land disputes and other causes of instability in southern ghana as well. Chieftaincy and rural development in ghana since independence. Chieftaincy institution, local government, administration, socio economic, cultural development in. Overview of chieftaincy, categories of chiefs, chieftaincy and colonialism, chieftaincy and religion, chieftaincy and.
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. That chiefs retain high status for many citizens of ghana is evident to all who have done research there in the past thirty years. It is not proposed in this article to give a detailed account of the institution of chieftaincy as it operates in the various communities in ghana. In precolonial times, leadership was the axis of executive, legislative and judicial powers.
Chieftaincy and the law in modern ghana kumado article. The chieftaincy institution in ghana is a system that structures and regulates the activity of local. Persistence of a traditional political institution in west. Examining the position of the chieftaincy institution in modern.
In the view of kendie and bukari 2012, ghana has often been described internationally as one of the most stable, democratic and. With regard to chieftaincy in ghana, this subject varies, depending on the context in which one encounters the institution. Initiate, formulate and ensure the efficient and effective implementation of policies. The ministry for chieftaincy and traditional affairs is the official ghanaian agency responsible the creation of linkages between the government of ghana and the traditional authorities in the country. 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 ghana s political history. Politics, chieftaincy and customary law in ghana isaac owusumensah ghana has been recognised internationally in recent years as a country whose democratic reform efforts have not only been emblematic of successful democratisation, but which also have brought significant benefits to. Article 277 defines a chief as a person who has been properly nominated from the correct lineage and enstooled, enskinned or installed as a chief or a queen mother in accordance with the relevant customary law and usage.
Politics, chieftaincy and customary law in ghanas fourth. Aug 18, 2015 in precolonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers. At one extreme, some ghanaian societies had extremely hierarchical, militarised forms of kingship or chieftaincy. Using the example of a chieftaincy dispute over sokpoes toponym, at the heart of which are claims to paramountcy status between the sokpoe and tefle, a tonguewe people of ghana, the article argues that chieftaincy and the state are not always parallel institutions of governance in which chiefs and state derive their legitimacy from entirely. Click download or read online button to get the law of chieftaincy in ghana book now. The politicisation of a chieftaincy conflict 5 for chieftaincy titles amongst ghana s new elite since the 1970s. Largescale land acquisition in africa has been the concern and the focus of growing global literature on land grabbing. Though chieftaincy conflicts occur in all parts of.
Colonial, civilian or military have in one way or the other tried to influence the role of chiefs in political affairs. 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. 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. Official portal for chiefs, african traditional governance and leadership. The northern region, in particular has witnessed protracted. Core functions the core functions of the ministry of chieftaincy and religious affairs are to.
Impact of chieftaincy conflict on the economic status of women in ghana adam andani mohammed phd candidate, department of sociology and anthropology, international islamic university malaysia abstract. Chieftaincy in ghana and the chieftaincy institution is one of the most influential ghanaian characteristics that shape collective, group and individual worldviews. The article is meant to enlighten the good people of ghana and the. Ghanas political system is a duality of traditional and modern systems of government. In mapping conflict zones in ghana, this study also examined the various conditions that breed violence in relation to direct violence deliberate policies and structures. The paramount chief held a position that can be compared to that of an absolutist king. The role of traditional institutions in political change and. Chieftaincy as an important social institution which binds the people together is fraught with numerous disputes. The upswing in biofuel investments in ghana led to largescale land acquisitions by the private sector presided over by. The aim of this study is to analyse the dynamics of dagbon chieftaincy conflict in northern ghana and to examine how rwandans.
International human rights, religious pluralism and the future of chieftaincy in ghana. A major development, however, as pointed out by hagan 2006 is the numerous conflicts associated with the chieftaincy institution. 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. In the view of kendie and bukari 2012, ghana has often been described internationally as. View chieftaincy and the law in modern ghana kumado article. Awedoba abstract this is a detailed survey of the sociodemographic patterns of the peoples who inhabit the northern half of ghana. Traditional leadership system among ethnic groups in ghana is one of the revered customary legacies.
Chieftaincy and the politics of heritage in ghana jstor. Though chieftaincy conflicts occur in all parts of the country, those that have been accompanied. Traditional leadership system among ethnic groups in ghana. 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. In order to do so, cooperate closely with civil society organizations in each region, harness their. It also examines how the chieftaincy institution changed through time. In precolonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers. Constitution of ghana recognizes the institution of chieftaincy within its statutory. Professor rathbone raises the point that the loss of material significance does not eliminate the psychological and social functions of chieftaincy. The role of traditional institutions in political change. Introduction trending within the social media landscape is a featured article by danaa nantogmah in his attempt to shed light on the bimbilla chieftaincy crisis. Chieftaincy is one of the most enduring traditional institutions in ghana, which has displayed remarkable resilience from precolonial through colonial to postcolonial times. The role of traditional institutions in political change and development.
The 1992 constitution of ghana included article 277 which defines chieftaincy. Apart from being a former director of the institute of african studies, ghana s premier institution. Politics, chieftaincy and customary law in ghanas fourth republic. Chieftaincy in ghana is a complete departure from conventional academic and public policy reflections on chieftaincy. Chieftaincy jurisdiction and the muddle of constitutional. And chieftaincy in periurban kumasi, ghana1 janine ubink introduction. 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.
In this article, danaa dilated upon a wide range of issues, which in his view are the facts and fictions about nanung bimbilla chieftaincy issues. When the republic of ghana was founded in 1957, it was agreed that the chieftaincy system should be. Constitution of ghana recognizes the institution of chieftaincy. 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. The colonial and postcolonial transformation of african chieftaincy. Impact of chieftaincy conflict on the economic status of. In ghana 80 percent of land is under the control of chiefs, with government in possession of 10 percent for public development. The modern role is to combat poverty and other social ills. Mphil candidate, institute for development studies, university of cape coast, ghana. This research adds to the limited literature on ga mashie chieftaincy conflict and chieftaincy conflicts in southern ghana.
Chieftaincy and state relations in ghana since independence 51 of 15 members. Although ghana enjoys considerable peace compared to cote divoire, liberia, sierra leone and others, it is venerable to intermittent communal violence as well as ethnic and chieftaincy conflicts. A religiocultural dilemma facing ghanaian christianity george sundagar moses wee george sundagar moses wee holds m. Ministry for chieftaincy and religious affairs wikipedia.
Accepted 17 february, 2012 it is widely argued that chiefs do not play any meaningful role in local government in ghana as they. The upswing in biofuel investments in ghana led to largescale land acquisitions by the private sector presided over by chiefs. Origin of chieftaincy in ghana in the main, chieftaincy in ghana originated from three sources abotchie in. Pdf international human rights, religious pluralism and. 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. Kludze introduction the supreme court of ghana, in the ghana bar association v. There are about twelve sections in this course and they include. The papers in this series are distributed free of charge and are available in pdf format. Nov 05, 2005 this article is to present the truth about what has now become known in ghanaian politics as. Challenges and prospects in the 21st century the paper delineates what is seen as key challenges to the chieftaincy. In ghana, chieftaincy institutions act as custodians for about 80% of the total land area, and are responsible for leasing or allocating land while official planning institutions determine and. A qualitative study of chieftaincy and local government in.
Pdf religion and chieftaincy in ghana researchgate. In the past, the role of a chief was to lead his people in war to defend, protect and extend their territories. Chieftaincy and traditional assets and values to serve as a basis for wealth creation and sociocultural empowerment. 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. When the akan were settling in the tekyiman region, in the period before 0, they had already long used the chieftaincy system. Degree in religious studies from the university of cape coast and mba from ghana institute of management and public administration gimpa. Ghana recognizes the institution of chieftaincy within its statutory. The paper delineates what is seen as key challenges to the chieftaincy institution in ghana. Politics, chieftaincy and customary law in ghana isaac owusumensah ghana has been recognised internationally in recent years as a country whose democratic reform efforts have not only been emblematic of successful democratisation, but which also have brought significant benefits to the country.
Pdf based on extensive research in primary and secondary sources and on field research in ghana, including more than 40 interviews, and. The politicisation of a chieftaincy conflict 5 for chieftaincy titles amongst ghanas new elite since the 1970s. In precolonial ghana, the chieftaincy institution was the main system of governance and adjudication of justice. The literature on chieftaincy in africa, particularly in ghana, attests to the importance of chiefs as development agents within the modern political systems. Examining the position of the chieftaincy institution in. Chieftaincy definition of chieftaincy by the free dictionary. 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. The colonial and postcolonial transformation of african. The author gives an account of the indigenous language patterns of the different ethnic groups, their social customs and distinctive customs.
The law of chieftaincy in ghana download ebook pdf, epub. These varied according to how the rulers were chosen. Chieftaincy in ghana, a large proportion of the land is socalled stool land, land vested in a stool2a customary communityon behalf of and in trust for the subjects of a stool in accordance with customary law and usage constitution 1992, articles 368 and 2671. The chieftaincy institution in ghana is a system that structures and regulates the activity of local chiefs monarchs in ghana society and state.
A qualitative study of chieftaincy and local government in ghana. Chieftaincy is one of the oldest and highly cherished institutions in ghana. Even though ghana is characterized more by a condition of stable peace than by conflict hughes 2003. Traditional authorities are regarded as custodians of such land. 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. Since the colonial era, the institution has been linked to the politics of ghana. 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. The leader or head of a group, especially of a clan or tribe. African chieftaincy has apparently functioned in ways which are familiar to the. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. 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. This paper examines the evolution of the chieftaincy, particularly as an agent of administration, in west africa niger and nigeria and melanesia vanuatu. In ghana, this position is guaranteed under the fourth republican constitution 1992. Origin of chieftaincy in ghana in the main, chieftaincy in ghana originated from three sources abotchie in odotei and.
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