To learn more, view ourPrivacy Policy. Today Ghana - December 29, 2012 1 By: Prof. Irene K. Odotei (Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon) Introduction Chieftaincy is one of the most enduring traditional institutions of Ghana and has displayed remarkable resilience from pre-colonial through colonial and post-colonial times. A trusted source also told me that a handful of young men from Bawku have travelled to Burkina Faso with the intention of fighting alongside the jihadists (although at least one of them returned after getting cold feet). In many parts of West Africa, there is an old chieftaincy tradition, and the Akan people have developed their own hierarchy, which exists alongside the democratic structure of the country. Using interview and textual analysis as its main instruments, the article looks at the role of the Judicial Committees of the Houses of Chiefs in dealing with the numerous succession disputes that has bedeviled the institution. What Role for Traditional Leadership in the Pluralistic State in Africa? Her role in the system is to have an eye on the social conditions. [1]. Contrary to the expectations of several theorists belonging to the modernisation school, chieftaincy as a traditional institution survived various political changes throughout the 19 th and 20 th century in most African states. The adjudicating authorities in chieftaincy and purely traditional matters are the regional and National House of Chiefs. Finally, Ghanas comparatively better armed forces and state capacity represent more of a deterrent to jihadists than, say, Togo or Benin. Dating to the period of British colonial rule, chieftaincy and the traditional political authorities have tended to run along parallel lines with the central government. If these boys did not have these weapons, Sawadogo told me separately, the fighting would have stopped much sooner.. centrality of the role of the chief in the traditional social structure impels Assimeng (1999:181) to describe the chieftain institution in the country as the 'bedrock of the social structure of Ghana and chiefs are seen as the repository of culture.' This said, it should, nonetheless, be said that Ghana's chieftaincy systems have a varied Traditional authority is not overwritten but rather refined, transformed and stabilized in the process of state formation. In the past, the role of a chief was to lead his people in war to defend, protect and extend their territories. Critics tagged the chieftaincy institution as anachronistic and even predicted its demise during the struggle for independence. Sustainability 2014, 6, 6332-6350; doi:10.3390/su6096332, INTRA-NAWURI RELATIONS: LAND AND CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTES AMONG NAWURIS OF NORTHERN GHANA, Land and revenue in a "traditional town" in Ghana: the case of the Nkwanta sub-division in Mpasatia, ASANTE QUEEN MOTHERS. Bawku is the weakest link when it comes to combatting violent extremism in Ghana, Abid Saani, a tall, polished Ghanaian security consultant with good connections in the security services, told me in his office. The study revealed that chieftaincy as an institution is deeply rooted in the local communities. ), Chieftaincy in Ghana: Culture, Governance and Development, Sub-Sahara Publishers, Accra, 2006. Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. the original family lineages hence contributing to chieftaincy conflicts in Ghana today. I realized that no one I met in Bawku listed jihadist infiltration among the main explanations for the changing violence until I had brought it up. Ghanaian troops have participated in several missions as United Nations Peacekeeping Forces. View the institutional accounts that are providing access. See below. The 1992 constitution provided for elected District Assemblies, to which government-appointed members and an appointed District Chief Executive are added. 2013, Neoliberal globalization and evolving local traditional institutions: implications for Access to resources in rural northern Ghana. Finally, in September, the government sent a high-level delegation to meet with the warring parties in the northern capital of Tamale. Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified, Chieftaincy in Ghana: Culture, Governance and Development, Volume 1 of Culture and Development Series. When on the society site, please use the credentials provided by that society. However, outside the town, security analysts and media figures have suggested that the chieftaincy conflict has been infiltrated by jihadist insurgents from neighboring Burkina Faso. Based upon field work in Ghana, the paper examines the interaction between government and local-level planning on the one hand, and the modern and traditional spheres on the other hand, in the context of coastal resources management. 2012. The Sunyani-Domase (Ghana) Chieftaincy Dispute in Retrospect, Traditional Political Institution in Modern Democratic Governance in Ghana: The Case of Akim Abuakwa Traditional Area, Ghanaian Traditional Women Leaders and Sustainable Development: The Case of Nadowli District of Ghana, Social Mobilisation in the Midst of Social Change: The Case of Traditional Authorities in Ghana, Religion and Development: African Traditional Religions Perspective, International Relations and Diplomacy (ISSN2328-2134) Volume 9, Number 03,2021, The Role of Traditional Leaders in Governance Structure Through the Observance of Taboos in Cape Coast, Kumasi and Teshie Societies of Ghana, "HE WHO GIVES POWER TAKES AWAY POWER": THE ROLE OF THE OHEMAA IN AKAN CHIEFTANCY, Traditional authories and governance: A case study of Komenda traditional area, The role of indigenous Assin religion in the practices of inheritance and succession of the Assin, The Obaahema's Stool: A Symbol of Political and Religious Authority in an Akan State, Relevance of Taboo Practices in Contemporary Akwamu Traditional Society, Land Administration, Chiefs, and Governance in Ghana, The Role of the Chief-King Among the Akans: A Theological Reflection, Neoliberal globalization and evolving local traditional institutions: implications for Access to resources in rural northern Ghana. A few weeks, later another policewoman was attacked while guarding a secondary school and her rifle stolen. Chieftaincies do not only endure in the Ghanaian countryside but also proliferate in new neighbourhoods on the peripheries of Ghanas fast-growing cities. It started with social media threats to kill vegetable vendors attending the central market. Appeals from decisions of the National House of Chiefs are made directly to the Supreme Court. The present Asantehene is Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. [5] Young Kusasi later said they thought the soldiers were actually Mamprusi in military outfits, and that the military later shot at a group of Kusasi, an accusation the military denied. La digitalizzazione degli archivi del potere tradizionale nzema (Ghana). Politicians ask chiefs for advice because usually they are closer to the people. Over the preceding weeks, tensions had been building between Bawkus two main ethnic groups, the Mamprusi and Kusasi, related to their decades-old dispute over control of this northwestern towns chieftaincy. In total, 68 people were killed and more than 200 houses burned down. In West Africa, however, where the British policy of Indirect Rule (using traditional institutions to sustain domination) held sway, the institutions of chieftaincy have survived. True system of self-expression and movement is at work. The structure of Ghana's traditional leadership is hierarchical in nature. There are also Regional Houses of Chiefs. This study explores the wide range of development implications of the protracted chieftaincy conflicts between Kusasis and Mamprusis in the Bawku Traditional Area. Usi politici e processi di patrimonializzazione delle fonti nello Nzema contemporaneo, Endangered Archives Programme 569 - Safeguarding Nzema History. Written sources are scarce. In all parts of the country the cultural heritage is closely linked with religion and the institution of chieftaincy. Within minutes of the sounds of gunshots, the schoolteacher Jaba told me, phones are inundated with messages from both sides framing themselves as the victims and promising reprisals. While forms of authority that descend from social or cultural tradition are commonly understood as archaic, traditional authorities often survive and occasionally even thrive during the formation of modern states. Contesting land and custom in Ghana: state, chief and , in In Ghana. Every society has a recognized system or structure of governance en vogue prior to the advent of modern political systems of governance. Sometimes, the institutions governing land use and management are crucial to the occurrence and adjudication of these disputes. The colorful festivals, traditional rites, and regalia associated with chieftaincy has been another way of preserving our unique identity while promoting Ghana's rich cultural heritage. Etnografie dallo Nzema, a cura di M. Aria, P. Schirripa, E. Vasconi, Edizioni Mincione, Roma, Imagining cultures of cooperation: Universities networking to face the new development challenges. Land conflicts remain a major hindrance to land use and tenure security in most parts of Ghana. Ghana went into colonisation with two broad types of customary land arrangement. The highest committee is the National House of Chiefs in Accra. Today, the symbolic act is sufficient: During parades, a stool wife is sitting in front of the chief. We haven't found any reviews in the usual places. Natural resources can be categorised as land, water bodies, oil and gas, timber and other minerals (such as gold, diamond, manganese, copper, bauxite, etc.) Chieftaincy and development in Ghana: . We show that the formation of a modern state has restricted the chiefs' discretion as sovereigns but afforded them greater power as managers of the land and gatekeepers of the state bureaucracy. After many years of oppression under one man, Ghana is now, under two terms of true civilian administration, trying to find her bearing. Chieftaincy holds a significant place in the cultural fabric of Ghana, serving as a key institution that preserves and represents the Ghanaian identity and connects the people to their ancestral . The government has successfully mediated thorny chieftaincy conflicts in the past. The highest committee is the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi. Fear gripped the town. . Ghana-Net.com 1st time online late December 2000, and updated since 2001 ! Either way, it became clear soon after the shooting started that the violence was taking a new course. About three-fourths of the adult population is literate. After a three-month lull in the fighting, violence broke out again in mid-December, claiming the lives of at least seven people, knocking out power to the region and freezing all economy activity. 2. There are also Regional Houses of Chiefs. Now its automatic weapons. That is a problem across northern Ghana where the wide availability of light automatic weapons, mostly smuggled from neighboring countries, has meant that even petty criminals can challenge the security forces. All but a small proportion of housing is provided by private individuals. Deleted. No matter if a chief is married or not, when installed, he will be married to a very young girl. Academia.edu uses cookies to personalize content, tailor ads and improve the user experience. The article will assess the methods the Committee uses in handling cases that come before it and how parties to the succession disputes collaborate with the Committee to dispense with the case. As people began nervously rebuilding, not quite convinced the fighting was completely over, some were starting to ask why the last year of violence had been so different from previous periods of unrest. [6] Video from early 2021 shows the Kusasi chief endorsing the segregated markets. Indeed, such framing of the conflict is not just analytically insufficient but also potentially dangerous. Advertise Free and Instant at Ghana Real Estates! They know the local politics of Bawku, Tanko said, referring to the insurgents, but that does not mean they have intervened.. To address the housing needs of the country, the government has focused on such areas as providing low-cost housing, developing suitable building materials, and creating a national building code. The reported HIV infection rate is similar to or lower than many other countries in Africa. The highest committee is the National House of Chiefs in Accra. A subchief can be compared to the mayor of a village. An off-duty policewoman was killed in late January when she visited a colleague at his post in Bawku. The Akan word for the ruler is nana. In early 2022, they built their own livestock market and began forcing herders to sell their cattle, sheep and goats at their market. the study reveals that, the Manhyia Palace, headed by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has resolved as much as 80 percent of the traditional land conflicts within the Asante Kingdom via history, the 'great oath swearing', assistance from professional sub-Chiefs and the 'Manhyia Powers'-the final supremo. When the Akan were settling in the Tekyiman Region, i.e. This study employed the case study comparative approach. In West Africa, however, where the British policy of Indirect Rule (using traditional institutions to sustain domination) held sway, the institutions of chieftaincy have survived. This article is an attempt to assess the effectiveness of the Act on the dispute resolution mechanisms of the judicial committees of the Houses of Chiefs. While the militants could not stop large container trucks from reaching the city center, reports emerged that farmers bringing their surplus into town were being stopped on the road. Chiefs as such are identified as playing extensive roles in state development and investment promotion through land administration, serving as gatekeepers between the central government and their. Various festivals and rites are centred on chieftaincy and the family and are occasioned by such events as harvest, marriage, birth, puberty, and death. We have never seen anything like this before, Sawadogo told me. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian. After that, people began walking longer distances to avoid hostile territory. 28 Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument 2017 and as part of the Civil Service of Ghana established by PNDCL 327, 1993 with specific functions and roles as provided by law. This was in late October. among others. However, addressing the issue as a matter of countering violent extremisminstead of identifying the real multiple causes and nuanceswill likely only stoke the conflict. By using our site, you agree to our collection of information through the use of cookies. A.K. In addition, there are many technical and training colleges in the country, and Accra is home to the National Film and Television Institute (1978). Nowadays, chiefs are under pressure to achieve good governance in their traditional areas. Chiefs have become informal administrators and points of liaison between local communities and state institutions. The story of chieftaincy in Ghana, for example, is one of evolution - especially under Kwame Nkrumah and the military regime of Jerry John Rawlings. Without it life will go on. Many of the endemic diseases, such as malaria, pneumonia, and diseases of the gastroenteritis group, which formerly took a heavy toll of life, have been brought under a measure of control as a result of improved hygiene, better drugs, and education. The next major period of violence in Bawku occurred in 2000 as ballots were being counted during a tight presidential election. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. 03.07.2005 LISTEN. A young man from northern Ghana who grew up in the countrys commercial capital Kumasi, he is well regarded for understanding local politics in the north and how it connects to the countrys neighbors. There I was told a very different version, about centuries of Mamprusi imperial domination. The first person I spoke to during my visit to Bawku last October was a leader in the Mamprusi community and member of the district assembly named Haruna Bashiru. Shibboleth / Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institutions website and Oxford Academic. We show that the formation of a modern state has restricted the chiefs discretion as sovereigns but afforded them greater power as managers of the land and gatekeepers of the state bureaucracy. . Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Like many people in Bawku, Sawadogo downplayed the jihadist connection. Introduction Chiefs continue to hold a symbolic cultural role in most African countries, but we argue in this study that through the consolidation of the modern nation-state their role has transformed. African history suggests that such an accountable political structure in centralized pre-colonial institutions is manifested in many ways. It is well known in Ghanas northern border areas that Kusasi communities in neighboring Burkina Faso are part of the anti-jihadist Kogleweogo militias. Thank you for submitting a comment on this article. People in Bawku tended to list prosaic factors for the changing conflict dynamics, such as weapons proliferation, social media and partisan politics. During my visit, partisans on both sides showed me the same video of a dead man riddled with bullets, insisting it was proof their rivals are secretly supported by the government. Traditional authority is not overwritten but rather refined, transformed and stabilized in the process of state formation. Book Reviews In some African societies, chieftaincy - the pre-colonial institution of governance with judicial, legislative, and executive powers - did not survive colonial and post-colonial rule. The Ministry's objective in line with the legal provisions, its . Thomas Abila, an elderly Kusasi sub-chief who has long been a part of Bawku politics, remarked that a Mamprusi friend of his stopped visiting his house to exchange greetings. While it is unclear exactly what was said, it appears leaders on both sides agreed to leave the issue of the chieftaincy to the side and focus on stopping the violence. Secondary school chieftaincy hierarchy in ghana her rifle stolen to land use and management are crucial to the mayor of village... Told a very young girl chief endorsing the segregated markets of Ghanas fast-growing cities as an institution is rooted... Have participated in several missions as United Nations Peacekeeping forces can be to. Have participated in several missions as United Nations Peacekeeping forces parts of the protracted chieftaincy conflicts in Ghana:,... Shibboleth / Open Athens technology is used to provide access to resources in rural northern Ghana told a very version! 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