Chieftaincy in Ghana
Chieftaincy in Ghana - Chieftaincy is one of Ghana and Africa's enduring cultural heritage and institution, which is deeply rooted in the ethnicity of Ghanaian tribes.
The Role Of Chieftaincy In Ghana
(I)Article 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.
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In pre-colonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers. Since the colonial era, the institution has been linked to the politics of Ghana. Various governments if colonial, civilian or military have in one way or the other tried to influence the role of chiefs in political affairs.
The 1992 constitution, like all previous constitutions, guarantees the institution of chieftaincy together with its traditional councils as established by customary law and usage. To preserve their role as symbols of national unity, however, chiefs are forbidden from active participation in party politics. A person shall not be qualified as a chief if he has been convicted for high treason, treason, high crime or for an offence involving the security of the State, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude. In southern Ghana, women are included in nearly all paramount chieftaincies as "Queen mothers." These women, who are not necessarily the mothers of the chiefs, have the right to nominate or even impeach their chiefs. Queen mothers advise chiefs and also act as moral leaders of the community.
Above map of Ghana
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The National House of Chiefs and the ten regional houses of chiefs represent more than 32,000 recognized traditional rulers who exercise considerable influence throughout Ghana, especially in the countryside. As trustees of communal lands and natural resources, chiefs are often the pivot around which local socio-economic development revolves.
Today in Ghana the central government has robbed the traditional rulers of most of their power. Thanks to corruption many of our chiefs have also lost their spiritual and moral authority.
Many of our chiefs are involved in dubious land sales. However there are a few like the Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II [ NAME MORE] whose contribution to the state are worthy of mention and emulation. Please allow me to site the contributions of the Asante King as an epitome of modernization of the honorable traditional institution of chieftaincy. Chieftaincy reformation would make a profound difference in Ghana. |
To give hand out is one thing but to provide the people a lasting legacy is more gracious.
Like many crowned monarch (or chiefdom), the influence of Otumfuor's office, the extent of his power, the love and admiration that emanates from his throne, and the support that he naturally commands among the people makes the Asantehene unique in using his stature to raise funds to address what is indeed a national emergency; and this is exactly what Otumfour has done in Ghana. - (c) Main Text By Okyere Bonna
Like many crowned monarch (or chiefdom), the influence of Otumfuor's office, the extent of his power, the love and admiration that emanates from his throne, and the support that he naturally commands among the people makes the Asantehene unique in using his stature to raise funds to address what is indeed a national emergency; and this is exactly what Otumfour has done in Ghana. - (c) Main Text By Okyere Bonna
Ashanti region and Kingdom
The Akan have developed their own hierarchy which exists alongside the democratic structure of the country. The Akan word for the ruler is nana. In colonial times, Europeans translated it to “chief”, which is not an exact equivalent. Other sources speak of “kings”, which is also not entirely correct. The term “chief” has become common even amongst modern Ghanaians, though it would be more correct to use the expression nana without translation wherever possible
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Chieftaincy is officially accepted. Politicians ask chiefs for advice because usually they are closer to the people. The highest committee is the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi. There are also Regional Houses of Chiefs. In case of problems between the chiefs, the House of Chiefs has a legal function to adjudicate in their matters. -
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