Chieftaincy, a revered traditional institution, has painfully but remarkably survived the colonial and post-colonial evolutions in Ghana.
So irresistible and influential is chieftaincy that its relevance has been guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
The sacrosanct nature of the institution was once again put to test by the violence and other scandals associated with it in recent times, as
captured by the media, resulting in the loss of lives and property.
This consequently brought to the fore formal and informal discussions about the relevance of chieftaincy in Ghana.
Amidst this development, the almost a decade chieftaincy dispute between Nana Aburam Akpandja IV, Paramount Chief of Buem, in the Jasikan
District, and Divisional Chiefs in the area, has been amicably settled.
Nana Antwi Agyei V, Chief of Okadjakrom, and Twafohene of Buem in the Jasikan District, reflecting on the settlement, said it was laborious but testified that chieftaincy is dynamic and prospective, despite its myriad
and complex challenges.
He told the Ghana News Agency that "frankly speaking, any attempt to abolish chieftaincy that embodies the soul, culture, authority,
socio-economic and political lives of the local people, would not be easy," and asked how do we fill such a vacuum"?
Chieftaincy like other human institutions such as the Church and government would continue to face setbacks, and its survival would depend on the extent to which pragmatic measures are employed to resolve problems associated with it.
Not even the world's most acknowledged traditional political institutions, such as the British Monarch, were spared of crises, disputes,
violence and loss of lives before they were able to transform themselves into viable institutions capable of offering leadership, development and
hope for the people.
The socio-economic and political roles of chiefs in Ghana are legendary and dates back to pre-independent Ghana.
After the evolution of many communities, mainly through wars and conquests, the philosophy and focus of chiefs shifted mainly to
socio-economic development.
The British colonial administration, due to lack of adequate personnel and resources, applied the Indirect Rule system, making use of chiefs and elders, who served as central figures in local government at the district level to govern the Gold Coast.
The chiefs imposed fines and fees and collected taxes on advice of the government and served as a link between the central administration and the people and helped to implement all policies of the colonial era.
Nana Sir Ofori Atta (1881-1943), Okyenhene, and Sir Arku Korsah, were the first Africans to be appointed to the Gold Coast Executive Council.
The chiefs supervised progress in their areas and worked towards socio-economic development of the people - provision of roads, water, schools, markets, health facilities and other infrastructure.
Nana Ofori Atta founded the Abuakwa State College in 1937 in Kyebi at an estimated cost of 10,000 pounds, wholly from Okyenman revenues.
He also established Kyebi Primary School or Elementary School later known as Kyebi Government School, Kyebi Trade School, later known as Kyebi
Government Trade School.
Late Asantehene, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh 11, founded Prempeh College in 1949. When the Asantehene was in exile in the Seychelles, he
advocated the education of Asante "Royals" back home and enrolled his successor, late Otumfuo Opoku Ware 11 in school when he returned to Ghana
from exile.
Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh supported missionaries to open schools in Ashanti, and he was instrumental in the establishment of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and instituted scholarships for the education of progressive Asante citizens. He also supported initiatives towards improving social life and public health.
Otumfuo Opoku Ware fought for the establishment of a medical school at KNUST and instituted scholarship schemes for the education of Ghanaians.
In 1948 Nii Kwabena Bonne 11, Osu Alata Mantse, in a bid to protect the economic interest of the people of Gold Coast spearheaded a strike and boycott of foreign goods to put pressure on the multi-nationals - Association of West Africa Merchants (AWAM), to reduce prices of commodities.
The day the strike was scheduled to end coincided with Christiansburg Cross Road Shooting in which Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey were killed. They led the march by the ex-servicemen who had been agitating for their end of service benefits for their role in the Second World War.
This event though tragic, helped to change the trend of Ghana's independence struggle as the country was thrown into chaos, resulting in the
arrest of the Big Six and the formation of the Coussey Committee that facilitated the process.
Modern chiefs also have no option than to settle chieftaincy despites amicably to preserve the cultural heritage, collaborate with government and the people and reconcile modernism with tradition to promote development.
Already, some visionary chiefs are engaging in peace initiatives and initiating projects towards socio-economic development.
Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin II, Okyehene, is fighting against destruction of the country's forest resources and environment and working
hard to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ghana.
Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, has contributed to the development of education in his area and as Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Initiative Limited, a private equity and portfolio investment firm, he is promoting economic development of Ghana.
He has launched the SAS Best Business Plan Award Scheme in 2001, to encourage entrepreneurship among young Ghanaian graduates and established the Volta Forum Trust Limited, to promote the socio-economic development of
the Volta Region and Ghana.
Togbe Afede is member of Boards of Directors of Aluworks Limited, Bank of Ghana and National Theatre of Ghana.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Ashantehene, is reputed to have settled some old chieftaincy disputes in Asanteman, setting the pace for another wave of development in the area.
He has established an education fund to support students not only from Asanteman but the entire country to complete school to acquire skills and knowledge required for national development.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu established a health fund to support basic health care plans, which include financial and material support for the reduction
of maternal and infant mortality, Glaucoma and other eye diseases and assisted Rotary club's to inoculate children against the six killer
diseases.
He secured a World Bank Project that was approved by government to build schools, rehabilitate old educational structures and to construct teachers' bungalows.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu established Asanteman Economic Revitalisation Plan to promote private and corporate investment in local industries,
re-afforestation and irrigation schemes.
The transformation of chieftaincy into a viable tool for development in contemporary Ghana would certainly not be on a sliver platter. It would require relentless efforts by all and sundry at finding solutions to the nagging challenges of the institution.
The membership of chiefs on the Council of State could be increased, and more chiefs should be made to serve on boards of state organisations, and represent the country at international conferences etc.
Whenever chieftaincy conflicts arise, government, the clergy and other opinion leaders are called upon to intervene. Amending the Constitution to give government limited powers to intervene in chieftaincy conflicts could
be a necessary but dicey option since chiefs are expected to manage their own affairs.
Chiefs should be mindful of the respect and influence they wield in society and be circumspect in their actions and pronouncements. The utterance or action of a chief can instigate some people either to act positively or negatively.
Kingmakers should avoid imposing chiefs on the people and they should observe basic events of making chiefs, which include nomination of chiefs from among the royals, approval by all stakeholders including the kingmakers, publicly identifying claimant, induction and installation.
Chiefs swearing the Oath of Allegiance by declaring their commitments and obligations to the people and the Oath of Loyalty to his or her superior and in recent times, recognition by the body of Chiefs at the Regional and National Houses of Chiefs should be adhered to.
A current project by the National House of Chiefs that seeks to document the lineage, selection and installation procedures of ruling Houses and Gates indicates the body's commitment to ending chieftaincy disputes in the country.
The institution of Chieftaincy Bulletin of the National House of Chiefs, consisting articles on the Constitution, administration of stool
lands, traditions in Ghana, lines of succession to stool and skins, the Chieftaincy Act and the chiefs list is also a welcome measure.
Government should provide financial and logistical support to the Judicial Committees and Traditional Councils of the Houses to enable them to deal swiftly with chieftaincy disputes.
The media should be cautious and avoid sensationalism when handling chieftaincy issues, especially conflicts.
Even though with the advent of modern government, the powers of chiefs have been limited, they should to some degree be involved in the development of their communities.
The 1992 Constitution could be amended to allow chiefs some measure of participation in national affairs without necessarily engaging in partisan politics.
If Ghanaian chiefs were used by the British colonial administration in governing the country, why should they in contemporary times be relegated to ceremonial functions?
By Clemence Okumah