The chieftaincy institution in ghana is a system that structures and regulates the activity of local. Origin of chieftaincy in ghana in the main, chieftaincy in ghana originated from three sources abotchie in odotei and. Local governance, decentralization and democracy are key components of the traditional ghanaian institution of chieftaincy. Since colonial times, the institution has been linked to ghanaian politics. 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. This portal is premised on the fact that chieftaincy is one of ghana and africas enduring cultural heritage and institution, which is deeply rooted in the ethnic. Persistence of a traditional political institution in west. The northern region, in particular has witnessed protracted conflicts over chieftaincy such as the succession dispute between the abudu and andani. Ministry for chieftaincy and religious affairs wikipedia. Despite the changing influence of chiefs in ghana, over 80% of land is. Authority and property in colonial ghana, 19201950.
These varied according to how the rulers were chosen. And whereas the people of ghana approved the said constitution for the administration of ghana to come into force on 7th day of january, 1993. Degree in religious studies from the university of cape coast and mba from ghana institute of management and public administration gimpa. 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. This paper addresses this gap by examining the chieftaincy land use planning nexus in the yendi municipality, ghana. Examining the position of the chieftaincy institution in modern. Chieftaincy in ghana is an extensive account of the many roles of chiefs in modern society. The chiefs are divided by the act of leadership into 5 categories as for authority. Project muse chieftaincy, the state, and democracy. Politics, chieftaincy and customary law in ghanas fourth. Ghana constitution 1960 preliminary note by francis bennion the following is the text of the 1960 ghana constitution, the first constitution of the country after it became an independent republic by virtue of the ghana independence act 1957. Ghanas political system combines competitive elections with what social scientists have called neo patrimonial rule.
Causers and arbitrators of conflicts in industrial jatropha investments. Jan, 2019 chieftaincy act, 2008 act 759 download file. 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. The instrument covering the establishment of the house was enacted on the 17th september, 1971, that is the chieftaincy act 1971 act 370. The structure of chieftaincy by kwesi amoa ebook lulu.
In the past, the role of a chief was to lead his people in war to defend, protect and extend their territories. Challenges and prospects in the 21st century the paper delineates what is seen as key challenges to the chieftaincy. Click download or read online button to get chieftaincy and politics book now. Impact of chieftaincy conflict on the economic status of.
Kludze begins his study with a historical account bringing his analyses to the present, and speculates on the future of chieftaincy in its formal and informal roles in the changing. 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. In precolonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers. Chieftaincy and politics download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. 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. 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.
Pdf based on extensive research in primary and secondary sources and on field research in ghana, including more than 40 interviews, and. Click download or read online button to get the law of chieftaincy in ghana book now. 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. As south africa consolidates its democracy, chieftaincy has remained a controversial and influential institution that has adapted to recent changes. The ministry of chieftaincy and culture was established in may, 2006. Colonial, civilian or military have in one way or the other tried to influence the role of chiefs in political affairs. Chieftaincy and sustainable urban land use planning in yendi. A chieftaincy dispute and ritual murder in elmina, ghana, 19456 volume 41 issue 2 roger gocking.
Chieftaincy, sovereignty and legitimacy and development. In ghana 80 percent of land is under the control of chiefs, with government in possession of 10 percent for public development. Below is the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana, arranged by chapters. Pdf religion and chieftaincy in ghana researchgate. The leader or head of a group, especially of a clan or tribe. Ghana, botswana, and south africa with the coordination centre at the university of calgary in canada. 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. Finally, the way forward will be discussed and some conclusions drawn. The papers in this series are distributed free of charge and are available in pdf format on the chrlp website. Chieftaincy and kingship in south africa south african.
Traditional leadership system among ethnic groups in ghana. The upswing in biofuel investments in ghana led to largescale land acquisitions by the private sector presided over by chiefs. Buy the structure of chieftaincy by kwesi amoa ebook online at lulu. Official portal for chiefs, african traditional governance and leadership. Historical challenges in the form of colonial attempts to sidestep the institution and the attempts by. The role of traditional institutions in political change and. Pdf the role of chieftaincy institutions in dispute. Mechanism report in february 20, the ministry was redesignated as the ministry of chieftaincy and traditional affairs to position itself to focus on the administration of the chieftaincy sector.
Kodzo paaku kludze provides detailed accounts and analyses of the law practices, rituals, and customs of chieftaincy. The legislation that underpins the chieftaincy institution in ghana currently is itself ghana s constitution chapter 270277 and chieftaincy act of 2008. For example, a chief is not elected into office by popular vote, but through lineage, and. The scholarship on urban land use planning in ghana has instead focused largely on rapid urbanisation, limited personnel and logistical capacity of planning institutions, and mainstream political interference. The literature on chieftaincy in africa, particularly in ghana, attests to the importance of chiefs as development agents within the modern political systems. The 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana and chieftaincy act 2008, act 759 maintained the house. Largescale land acquisition in africa has been the concern and the focus of growing global literature on land grabbing. Although ghana enjoys considerable peace compared to cote divoire, liberia. The paper delineates what is seen as key challenges to the chieftaincy institution in ghana. Origin of chieftaincy in ghana in the main, chieftaincy in ghana originated from three sources abotchie in. Chieftaincy and the law in modern ghana kumado article. Together with its allies, the npp could command 17 of the 26 seats in the northern territories. The national house of chiefs was established in 1969 under article 154 of the 1969 constitution.
One of the key issues relates to chieftaincy operating on principles that are antithetical to democratic ideas and values. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. In precolonial ghana, the chieftaincy institution was the main system of governance and adjudication of justice. Chieftaincy definition of chieftaincy by merriamwebster. Since the colonial era, the institution has been linked to the politics of ghana. A religiocultural dilemma facing ghanaian christianity george sundagar moses wee george sundagar moses wee holds m. In some african societies, chieftaincy the precolonial institution of governance with judicial, legislative, and executive powers did not.
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. Constitution of ghana recognizes the institution of chieftaincy within its statutory. However, the bulsa traditional area buluk of ghana has had a stable and resilient chieftaincy succession despite conflicts arising. The chieftaincy institution is one of the oldest cultural and political heritages in africa. In precolonial times, leadership was the axis of executive, legislative and judicial powers. In ghana, this position is guaranteed under the fourth republican constitution 1992. Taarn is also just starting to publish the new university of calgary. Chieftaincy conflicts and women in ghana osei benjamin acheampong thesis for master of philosophy in peace and conflict studies department of political science. Chieftaincy is indeed important to the people of ghana. The yendi chieftaincy dispute and ghanaian politics.
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. A geographical perspective on the transformation of tradition. 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. Chieftaincy and politics download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The role of traditional institutions in political change. Whereas the said draft constitution was submitted to a national referendum held throughout ghana on the 28th april, 1992. 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. The ministry is mandated to function as the primary and apex body on policy formulation and coordination in the chieftaincy sector of ghana. 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. 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. Michael williams examines the chieftaincy and how it has sought to assert its power since the end of apartheid. Chieftaincy definition is the rank, dignity, office, or rule of a chieftain. Traditional leadership system among ethnic groups in ghana is one of the revered customary legacies. The modern role is to combat poverty and other social ills.
Ghana has more than 230 chieftaincy disputes dotted across many parts of the. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Chieftaincy definition of chieftaincy by the free dictionary. Chieftaincy in ghana has been through various challenges spanning across the precolonial, colonial and postcolonial era. 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. 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. 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. Search for solutions, stakeholders and way forward political violence is also a common phenomenon in ghana. Adjaye and misawa assert that the major challenge confronted by the institution in the precolonial era was that of territorial expansion as. 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. In a democratic society, the observance of chieftaincy faces many problems. Ghana has more than 230 chieftaincy disputes dotted across many parts of the country. Aug 18, 2015 in precolonial times, chieftaincy constituted the axis for the exercise of executive, legislative and judicial powers. An explanation of the persistence of a traditional.
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