Chieftaincy institution (Ghana)

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The chieftaincy institution in Ghana is a system that structures and regulates the activity of local chieftains in the Ghanaian society and state.

Contents

Paper and legislation

In pre-colonial times, leadership was the axis of executive, legislative and judicial powers. Since the colonial era, the institution has been linked to Ghanaian politics. Several governments - the colonial, civilian, or military - have attempted, in one way or another, to influence the role of chiefs in political affairs. [1] The legislation that underpins the chieftaincy institution in Ghana currently is itself Ghana's constitution [2] (chapter 270–277) and the chieftaincy act of 2008. [3]

Categories of chiefs

The chiefs are divided by the act of leadership into 5 categories (as for authority): [4]

  1. Paramount Chiefs
  2. Divisional Chiefs
  3. Sub-divisional Chiefs
  4. Adikrofo, and
  5. Other minor Chiefs not falling within any of the preceding categories as are recognised by the Regional House of Chiefs.

This popular hierarchy system informally divides chiefs between royalty and nobility, using the European comparative scale of equivalence: [5]

Royalty

They are the monarchs proper, who prevailed before colonization with sovereignty or complete autonomy (depending on the primacy). We can divide in:

Nobility

The primary difference between the nobility and traditional royalty is the "stools" which the latter possess, that is, the thrones. Just as royal titles are very diverse and vary from ethnicity to ethnicity, so too are those of nobles, but when comparing them to the basic categories of the Western European standard we have:

Chivalry

A relatively new phenomenon has been observed in Ghana, as in other parts of Africa. Dynastic orders related to the royal chiefs and their lineages have begun to appear. [8] [9] [ unreliable source? ] Some examples:

These, on the one hand, have been an alternative to the banalization of the development chief category, but have themselves been criticized by certain conservative monarchists for not respecting the tradition of cavalry not belonging to the traditions of most of Africa, although few question reigning kings right to reformulate and create honors at will.

Notable chiefs

King Of Kings

Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II

Paramount

Divisional

Development

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "The Role Of Chieftaincy In Ghana". www.ghanaweb.com. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "Constitution of the Republic of Ghana". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Chieftaincy Act - GhanaLegal - Legal Portal for Ghana". laws.ghanalegal.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. ↑ "Chieftaincy Act - GhanaLegal - Legal Portal for Ghana". laws.ghanalegal.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  5. ↑ Modey, Emmanuel (13 August 2013). "Nana Letsabi, legitimate Paramount Chief of Santrokofi". ModernGhana . Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Manhyia Palace - ghanagrio.com". www.ghanagrio.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  7. 1 2 Aidoo, Kwame (2 July 2018). "Meet the 'White Chiefs' of Ghana". Culture Trip. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  8. ↑ "The Royal Order of the Lion of Godenu". royalgodenu.org. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Royal Order of the Golden Fire Dog". Official Website of the Royal house of Sefwi Obeng-Mim. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  10. ↑ Listed as a recognized Dynastic Order by The Augustan Society
  11. ↑ "The Royal Order of the Golden Leopard – An Order of the Kingdom of Ashanti Akyem Hwidiem" . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "Kingdom of Papagya – A Subnational Kingdom of Ghana" . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  13. ↑ Listed as a Royal Patron of The Heraldry Society of Africa
  14. ↑ "Conheça Ashanti Akyem Hwidiem". 3 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Kingdom of Papagya – A Subnational Kingdom of Ghana" . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  16. ↑ https://www.new-sawereso.org/about
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