In Ghana, the institution of chieftaincy has been grossly underrated, despite its natural power and capacity to lead local development. According to Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh, it is time to address this issue constitutionally. The 1992 Constitution's Article 245(a) mandates a decentralised system of local government and administration to drive local development. However, its implementation has been underwhelming, prompting the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) to seek a review in an "all development is local" approach.
The CRC recommends introducing direct elections for local government chief executives (MMDCEs) and establishing an Independent Devolution Commission (IDC) to intensify decentralisation and invigorate local development authority. However, this task falls to the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to enact constitutional intervention to remedy the lack of development at the local level, which slows national development. Chieftaincy, as the logical apparatus, stands ready for consideration by CRIC to drive local development.
Despite common perceptions that chieftaincy is a source of conflict, particularly over succession issues, the institution's massive potential as an agent for local development is woefully underrated. In fact, chieftaincy has historically played a significant role in local development. For instance, Biadanhene (chief) Nana Kwasi Ansu in the Berekum Traditional Area led his people to provide themselves with real development, including pipe-borne water and a community centre, within two short years in the 1950s.
Chiefs in Ghana still utilise their traditionally decentralised authority to develop their areas, mobilising to provide health and education facilities, social amenities, and infrastructure to stimulate economic activity. With its authority boosted by the constitution, chieftaincy can do even more to drive local development. The institution is "democratic government to a degree of which there is not any modern parallel in Europe," with decentralisation as "one of its outstanding characteristics."
Chieftaincy democracy develops where "election democracy" may not, and the institution deserves the restoration of its authority to develop, which is constitutionally usurped in local government with the 1992 Constitution. At each level of the chieftaincy hierarchy, the leader/chief is empowered and reasonably resourced with autonomy and power to mobilise and develop their jurisdiction/chiefdom, without dependence on the centre.
Traditional leaders are more knowledgeable and better prepared as development leaders than the political class, empowered and compelled by culture, tradition, and customary practice to mobilise human and material resources to improve the living conditions of their people. The institution's gender-inclusive queen mother role strengthens the active participation of women in local development that leads to national development.
The tools available to chiefs for mobilisation and execution of a local development agenda include networks of vertical sub-authorities and horizontal abusua (family/clan) groups, as well as devices such as the 'dawuro' concept for effective communication. Some skins and stools even own communication centres, radio stations, websites, or are robustly present on various social media platforms.
Key points
- The institution of chieftaincy can play a significant role in local development in Ghana.
- The 1992 Constitution's Article 245(a) mandates a decentralised system of local government and administration to drive local development.
- The Constitution Review Committee recommends introducing direct elections for local government chief executives and establishing an Independent Devolution Commission.
