Examining the Historical Development of the Chieftaincy Institutions in Ghana
Keywords:
Chamba traditional area, chieftaincy, Ghana, governmentAbstract
It is gratifying to note that a vast majority of Ghanaians especially the rural dwellers relate more easily to traditional authorities than even government agencies. In the event of any mishap or emergency, chief palaces are the first point of call. Chiefs and for that matter, the chieftaincy institution becomes a mobilizing force to gather people and resources to address any mishap emanating from an emergency situation. Chiefs by virtue of their social status in the political and social spectrum are the custodians of culture and traditions. Chieftaincy institution goes back at least five hundred years and pre-dated European contact and remained the basis of traditional governance in Ghana and for that matter Chamba Traditional Area. The study focused on the historical developments of chieftaincy institutions and the role that religion plays on the chieftaincy institution in the Chamba Traditional Area of Ghana. Ghanaian chieftaincy now has family units with family heads at the base of the chieftaincy triangle and the [Overlords or Kings] at the apex. Chieftaincy in Ghana has therefore emerged from the social fabric of the land. This means that unlike chieftaincy set-ups in other parts of Africa, the Ghanaian chieftaincy is nobody’s creation and therefore cannot be easily destroyed.
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