Balancing Tradition and Democracy: Ghanas Evolving Chiefdom System

Abstract

Course name Instructor’s name Assignment due date Becoming a King Case Study Identification of Main Issues An issue in the case study is the place of chiefs in the democracy of Ghana that how has a modern political system. Peggielene Bartels was selected to serve as the king of Otaum, after her uncle died in 2008. While she lives in the United States, she plans to visit Ghana in her vacation time to serve her loyal duties and move to her town after retirement to become full king. The position of king maintains the chiefdom tradition in Ghana that has been an important tradition in the country’s culture (Mawuko-Yevugah et al., 2021). The issue with the tradition is that the country now has formal political institutions that serve most of the purposes of traditional chiefs. However, the constitution of the country guarantees the survival of the institution and protects it despite the existence of a more formal form of government in the country. Ghana system of chiefdom has a significant impact on key social and political aspects of leadership in the country. The issue with the institution is how it fits into the now modern political system of democracy and government in the country where formal institutions exist at the national level. Additionally, the survival of the chiefdom system is an issue since it will have to adapt to changes in leadership and administration in Ghana. Kings and queens in traditional Ghana played an important role of leadership at the local level by settling disputes, mobilizing resources for the benefit of the people, and promoting the local culture. It is an important traditional aspect that the government intends to protect by engraving the system in the constitution. However, the survival of the institution is at risk as a result of the modernization of the country’s political, social, and economic landscape. For instance, Bartels will be the custodian of more than 1000 acres of land in her town and will make decisions on how the resources in Otaum are utilized (Dankwa et al., 2021). This was an important traditional role when most resources were communally owned and kings decided how people benefited from their resources. The economic structure of Ghana has changed significantly with individual control of personal resources making some loyal responsibilities obsolete. The issue is that these changes have an effect on the survival of an important tradition and institution in Ghana (Bukari et al., 2021). The modernization of the country’s economic and political system threatens the future of a tradition that has governed towns at the local level for centuries. Analysis and Evaluation of Issues The democratically elected government of Ghana has the responsibility to maintain law and order at the national and regional levels. As opposed to the pre-colonial forms of government, Ghana is a democratic country that has executive, legislative, and judicial branches that play the role of formal administration and leadership (Bukari et al., 2021). Consequently, the country’s social and political structures have changed over the years and affected the chiefdom institution. Reconciling the roles of the modern government and the traditional chiefs or kings is a major issue in the country. While the 1992 constitution protects and guarantees the existence of chiefs, the institution’s roles have changed since their pre-colonial era (Mawuko-Yevugah et al., 2021). Moreover, the formal government operates at a national level as opposed to the traditional local institutions. The country’s democratically elected leaders have roles that unite the country’s interests and maintain the rule of the law. With formal institutions taking over the roles of the traditional chiefs, the issue of reconciling local and national responsibilities is a key problem in the future chiefdom system in the country. The complex interplay between the rules at local levels and national level is bound to cause conflicts between the chiefdom institution and the political systems. Chiefs or kings have the discretion of resolving disputes, appointing political leaders, and governing the use of loyal resources. The system works well when there is a stable structure at the local level that is in line...