There has been increased awareness globally on the impacts of conflicts on women and the contributions women can make in peace building. Chieftaincy as an important social institution which binds the people together is fraught with numerous disputes. Overview of chieftaincy, categories of chiefs, chieftaincy and colonialism, chieftaincy and religion, chieftaincy and. Chieftaincy and kingship in south africa south african. For example, a chief is not elected into office by popular vote, but through lineage, and. The modern role is to combat poverty and other social ills. Despite the fact that ghana has adopted policies aimed towards gender equality, the increased role of chieftaincy poses a challenge particularly on issues concerning chieftaincy conflict resolution. Chieftaincy which revolves around ethnicity is generally considered as one of the major source of conflict in ghana. In ghana, this position is guaranteed under the fourth republican constitution 1992. Despite the changing influence of chiefs in ghana, over 80% of land is under the control of.
The paramount chief had a position which can be compared to that of an absolutist king. 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. Finally, the way forward will be discussed and some conclusions drawn. 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. Chieftaincy institution, local government, administration, socioeconomic. In a democratic society, the observance of chieftaincy faces many problems. Chieftaincy is indeed important to the people of ghana. The attorney general, has unanimously decided that, even under the 1992 constitution, high court and the court of appeal have no jurisdiction in chieftaincy matters. Chieftaincy is one of the few resilient institutions that have survived all the three phases of ghanas political history during precolonial, colonial and postcolonial eras irrespective of the general attitude towards chiefs, and the institution. The law of chieftaincy in ghana download ebook pdf, epub. Chieftaincy definition of chieftaincy by merriamwebster. During the most difficult moment in the dispute, when he was not free to move.
The chiefs are divided by the act of leadership into 5 categories as for authority. Ghana, development brokers, development aid, chieftaincy, contemporary history. The search for national integration in africa, new york. Origin of chieftaincy in ghana in the main, chieftaincy in ghana originated from three sources abotchie in odotei and.
Custodians of the institution must strictly adhere to the rules of the institution to avoid embarrassing situations because we hold them in high esteem. It focuses on politics and the mythical history of kings in the city of abeokuta and argues that, particularly during the 1990s, the royal politics of the town drew heavily on. Pdf based on extensive research in primary and secondary. 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. The weird logic of near miss its not the catastrophe it could have been. Effects of the wa chieftaincy conflict politics essay. The role of traditional institutions in political change and. 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. Chiefs for what i know are the custodians of our customs and traditions.
Case of a chieftaincy succession in ghana abstract 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. Pdf religion and chieftaincy in ghana researchgate. The role of traditional institutions in political change. Official portal for chiefs, african traditional governance and leadership. Chieftaincy as a necessary institution in modern ghana. 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. Buy the structure of chieftaincy by kwesi amoa ebook online at lulu. 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. He was a former minister of the volta region under the government of president kufuor, and is national council member of the npp. Reinventing african chieftaincy in the age of aids, gender. Chieftaincy institutions particularly in northern ghana is perceived as male institution. 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. 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.
Countryterritory ghana document type legislation date 2008 source fao, faolex long title an act to revise and consolidate the chieftaincy, 1971 act 370 to bring its provisions in conformity with the constitution and to provide for related matters. Chieftaincy and rural development in ghana since independence. Yet, chieftaincy in ghana has never been under the threat of. Constitution of ghana recognizes the institution of chieftaincy within its statutory. A qualitative study of chieftaincy and local government in ghana. This article investigates the relationship between chieftaincy and the state in modern nigeria. Politics, chieftaincy and customary law in ghanas fourth republic. The politicisation of a chieftaincy conflict 5 for chieftaincy titles amongst ghanas new elite since the 1970s. Colonial, civilian or military have in one way or the other tried to influence the role of chiefs in political affairs. 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. Examining the position of the chieftaincy institution in.
Chieftaincy definition is the rank, dignity, office, or rule of a chieftain. The history of chieftaincy can be traced to the africans in the gold coast brobbey, 2008, p. Since the colonial era, the institution has been linked to the politics of ghana. 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. The yendi chieftaincy dispute and ghanaian politics t paul ladouceur on 4 september 1969 the ghanaian government announced that it had decided to uphold the findings of a government commission of inquiry into a chieftaincy dispute in the small northern town. The structure of chieftaincy by kwesi amoa ebook lulu. Reinventing african chieftaincy in the age of aids, gender, governance, and development presents new research in ghana, botswana, and south africa, providing the broadest geographic african coverage on the topic of african chieftaincy. Sustainability free fulltext the chieftaincy institution. 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. Chieftaincy and the law in modern ghana kumado article. It focuses on politics and the mythical history of kings in the city of abeokuta and argues that, particularly during the 1990s, the royal politics of the town drew heavily on different versions of mythical history. Overview of chieftaincy, categories of chiefs, chieftaincy and colonialism, chieftaincy and religion, chieftaincy and modern governance, chiefs and development.
Click download or read online button to get the law of chieftaincy in ghana book now. Historical challenges in the form of colonial attempts to sidestep the institution and the attempts by. Chieftaincy institutions particularly in northern ghana is. Chieftaincy is one of the most enduring traditional institutions in ghana, which has displayed remarkable resilience from precolonial through colonial to postcolonial times. In precolonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers. These varied according to how the rulers were chosen. The yendi chieftaincy dispute and ghanaian politics. Chieftaincy and politics download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. Chieftaincy definition of chieftaincy by the free dictionary. It is hard to define ghanaian chieftaincy a nonstate player. It also examines how the chieftaincy institution changed through time. Despite the changing influence of chiefs in ghana, over 80% of land is.
The role of traditional institutions in political change and development. 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. This point can be contested because it was not all parts of the gold coast that were ruled by. The supreme court of ghana, in the ghana bar association v. 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. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. One of the key issues relates to chieftaincy operating on principles that are antithetical to democratic ideas and values. 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. In the view of kendie and bukari 2012, ghana has often been described internationally as one of the most stable, democratic and. The upswing in biofuel investments in ghana led to largescale land acquisitions by the private sector presided over by chiefs. When the republic of ghana was founded in 1957, it was agreed that the chieftaincy system should be respected. A major development, however, as pointed out by hagan 2006 is the numerous conflicts associated with the chieftaincy institution. The yendi chieftaincy dispute and ghanaian politics t paul ladouceur on 4 september 1969 the ghanaian government announced that it had decided to uphold the findings of a government commission of inquiry into a chieftaincy dispute in the small northern town of yendi. Origin of chieftaincy in ghana in the main, chieftaincy in ghana originated from three sources abotchie in.
The leader or head of a group, especially of a clan or tribe. Chieftaincy is one of the oldest and highly cherished institutions in ghana. Chieftaincy and politics download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Click download or read online button to get chieftaincy and politics book now. 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 legislation that underpins the chieftaincy institution in ghana currently is itself ghana s constitution chapter 270277 and the chieftaincy act of 2008. There are about twelve sections in this course and they include. 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. The paper delineates what is seen as key challenges to the chieftaincy institution in ghana. The committee suspended its sittings last year because of the electioneering which was likely to interfere with the peace process and it has not reconvened since the change in government.
I would like to submit that in spite of the bones we may want to pick with chieftaincy, we cannot deny the fact that it is the bedrock of our ghanaian and even african culture. In the past, the role of a chief was to lead his people in war to defend, protect and extend their territories. When two families are claiming the right to a stool or a skin. Since the chieftaincy institution was created by humanbeings its not flawless but, therere rules and guidelines that govern this wonderful institution. Aug 18, 2015 in precolonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers. When the akan were settling in the tekyiman region, i. Akan chieftaincy ghana encyclopedia article citizendium. Largescale land acquisition in africa has been the concern and the focus of growing global literature on land grabbing. Chieftaincy jurisdication and the muddle of constitutional. The community head or chief was a rallying point for his people and he led them in times of war and difficulties.
Ghana has more than 230 chieftaincy disputes dotted across many parts of the. 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. He has a first degree in engineering and holds a diploma in marketing. Even if this decision itself is correct, it is nevertheless premised on highly questionable legal propositions and dicta.
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