Chieftaincy or no Chieftaincy?

The tectonic plates of Ghana chieftaincy heaved this week and prior to that, dispute after dispute kept popping up. This have made the bravado of some chiefs exceed their constitution and one may wonder if chieftaincy is an asset or a liability in Ghana. The National Security adviser, Brigadier Nunoo Mensah recently highlighted on this that if unchecked could bring disastrous consequences to the entire country and the country faces a fundamental dilemma into the bargain.

The future of chieftaincy may lie beyond our vision but not beyond our control. Kings and Chiefs have been given too much power and control to the point that it is believed in some circles that without them the country is going nowhere. As a result of this some of them have it ingrained in their minds that they are above the laws of the country and could bellow out instructions which have to be obeyed hook, line and sinker without thinking about the repercussions.

Whatever is happening now between Techiman chief, Tuobodom chief, and the Asantehene should be blamed on the previous government and the present government. If there are some chiefs in Ghana who have the power to make the country come to a grinding stop they should tell us and we will worship them. These chiefs don't own Ghana but they live in Ghana as citizens and should obey the laws of the country.

The government sometimes avert its gaze or becomes neutral when some of them overstep their bounds but comes down hard on others. Whenever any government becomes neutral in situations of injustice, they have chosen the side of the oppressor. Anybody who does not believe that the chiefs are just setting the stage for a conflagration in future is deficient in reasoning.

When Brong Ahafo Region was created from Western Ashanti about fifty years ago, everything was signed, sealed and delivered to the Osu castle. It was agreed B/A and its people did not owe allegiance to any other region but to Ghana alone. This is what any Asantehene refuses to understand and admit. The brave people of Brong Ahafo also think their lives begin to end the day they become silent about things that matter.

The confusion that we are seeing now in the country between Techiman and Tuobodom could be traced to the doorstep of Asantehene and the National House of Chiefs. The catalyst that set all this off was when Tuobodom chief was elevated to the status of a paramount chief by Asantehene knowing very well that he was trespassing. Anything that sends a flare to the ordinary Ghanaian to know the problem is worth the effort. I really donot condone what the Techiman chief did. The alleged plan he hatched out was a heinous one and was a plan of horrible simplicity. He should know that a thoughless mistake like this is fatal to the credibility of his Kingship.

Article 273 of the 1992 constitution empowers the state of Ghana to establish a National House of Chiefs which shall have appellate jurisdiction in any cause or matter affecting Chieftaincy. The National House of Chiefs have been quite over this trespassing for so many years and has now gone out of hand. This demonstrates the governments lack of institutional red lights and alarms necessary to warn of any dangers.

In a fit of bravado Asantehene is now declaring war on the chief of Techiman. If these threats from the Asantehene has come from any other chief I don't think the government would have sent a delegation to that chief. A state of emergency would have been declared. We are living in a country where all chiefs are equal but some are more equal than others. The subtext of Asantehene's bombast is that he is the de-facto president of Ghana and not under any law.

If the subjects of any chief are going to hold him in higher esteem and treat him as Jesus Christ that is their business, but the power of that chief ends at his regional boundaries.The Asanteman council have chosen a soft target which is B/A to elevate some chiefs. Why didn't they go to Akyem or any other region in the country to show that bravado?. The fact that the Asantehene is throwing his weight about in matters he wants favourable decisions puts a finger in the eye of the constitution. He is the leader for the Ashantis and that is where his authority ends. Period!

The most ardent supporters of the Asantehene would be stretching the bounds of self-delusion if they think that the Techiman chief Nana Akumfi Ameyaw could be suppressed by such intimidations. All those flurries wouldn't be enough to floor him. Asantehene should have remembered that he is one of the people trying to broker peace in the Northern region and therefore shouldn't have said what he said by using every force to deal with another chief. This mistake Asantehene made has made many people to question his veracity.

Again the Asantehene went a bridge too far by telling the President to fire the B/A Regional Minister and the Police commander. Also to choose between him and the Techiman chief. Such outlandish remarks or suggestions shouldn't have come from him. The Regional Minister represents the region and seeks what is good for the region. If a chief who resides in Brong Ahafo decides to owe allegiance to Asantehene then that chief should be denied any services provided by the Brong Ahafo Region and with the taxes of its citizens.

One thing I cannot fathom is the Brong Ahafo House of Chiefs allowing their president who at the same time is a member of the Asanteman council lead their delegation to smoke the peace pipe with the Asantehene. Where will his loyalty be and how can he serve two masters at the same time.? Whatever that chief is doing is just a hoax and his heart is not with Brong Ahafo region.

The youth from Kumasi who went to Kejetia to harass the Techiman drivers and passengers should have compunction about what they did. Ghanaians are really sick and tired about chieftaincy in the country. Upon all the lands which should have been the governments property that they are selling, no real progress is seen in their towns.They all rely on the government. If the President fails to stamp his authority over this issue then Ghanaians should know that we are reading the first page in a thriller that will end either in a big fight.

Seth Bonsu (Denver-USA)