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Political interference is destroying our chieftaincy institution!
The Chieftaincy institution in Ghana is a system that structures and regulates the activity of local chieftains in the Ghanaian society and the state. It is one of the most respected and enduring traditional institutions in Ghana which has displayed a remarkable resilience from pre-colonial through colonial to post-colonial regimes.
In the past, the role of the chief was to lead the people in a war to defend, protect and extend their territories. The modern role is to combat poverty and other social ills, illiteracy, ignorance, environmental degradation and depletion of resources. These days, chiefs are under pressure to achieve good governance in their traditional areas and are challenged to integrate tradition and modernity, a process about which there is a considerable debate.
THE 1992 CONSTITUTION AND CHIEFTAINCY INSTITUTION
In accordance with Article 271 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 1 of the Chieftaincy Act 759, the National House of Chiefs is the umbrella body that regulates the activities of chiefs in this country. The House consist of five paramount chiefs from each region elected by the Regional House of Chiefs constituted in the various regions in the country. Prior to the creation of six new regions, the total membership of the National House of Chiefs stood at 50. This number is likely to increase with the creation of additional regions in the country.
The role of the chieftaincy institution in the national development as enshrined in the constitution is basically peacekeeping, peace enforcement, peacemaking and peacebuilding. It, therefore, presupposes that peace in general in pre-colonial era, was manifested in the functions of the institution in general and the chief in particular.
CHIEFTAINCY INSTITUTION LOSING RESPECT
Studies have shown that the once revered chieftaincy institution in Ghana has taken a nose dive with persistent conflicts which tend to tear the institution apart. The majority of these conflicts have been concentrated in northern part of the country, which have resulted in violent clashes leading to loss of lives and destruction of property. Notable areas in the north where chieftaincy conflicts have taken major toll on their economies include, Dagbon, Bawku, Bimbilla, Bolga and Bole.
It is also a fact that beyond the contest among royals, chieftaincy conflicts involve other actors such as politicians who use their influence on the people for political power. Politicians and youth groups have all influenced and manipulated chieftaincy conflicts for their own selfish motives. People not related to the chieftaincy contest and, therefore, have nothing to do with the chieftaincy matters sometimes take active interest in some of these conflicts and become embroiled in the escalation of the violence. Candidates for chieftaincy positions rely on the support of local and national political leaders to help them achieve their powers over traditional areas. Their association with the chiefs in the conflicts often comes with a cost.
ROLE OF NPP, NDC IN CHIEFTAINCY CONFLICT
The two main political parties in this country, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have been identified as major actors in some of these chieftaincy conflicts in the country. It is also important to note that businessmen aligned to these two major parties use their wealth to sponsor some of these conflicts so that they eventually recoup the benefits when their favourite party comes to power.
If these politicians and businessmen will free themselves from fanning these chieftaincy conflicts, the institution will bounce back and regain its former glories as a profound body ready to provide that leadership role to the people.
DRAMA SURROUNDING INSTALLATION OF GA MANTSE
Another interesting development in the Ga State, is the drama surrounding the installation of a Ga Mantse. This particular case has seen a back and forward approach from the High Court to the Supreme Court, which is the final arbiter of the case. So far, there have been three High Court rulings concerning this Ga Chieftaincy issue involving Nii Adama Latse II and Dr Kelvin Tackie, over who is the legitimate occupant of the Ga Mantse stool.
The recent ruling by the Supreme Court was that the various high courts which heard the matter lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate cases involving chieftaincy and that, the judges should have declined jurisdiction when the matter was brought before them for determination. The five-member bench, therefore, annulled the ruling of Justice Naa Adoley Azu on whose decision the two other judges, Justice Gifty Dekyem and Justice Nicholas Abodakpi also made in their determination of the case.
GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN CHIEFTAINCY MATTERS
It is a fact that government after government continues to either back or influence the installation of chiefs in the Ga state, making sure that their favourites are selected to occupy the stool even though they are not yet qualified for the throne. We have experienced that in many of the past regimes and this does not augur well for development. It rather polarizes the people and stalls development and progress.
In order to make the chieftaincy institution sacred and well respected, it is important for ruling governments not to involve themselves in the day to day activities of chiefs who are development agents in their various localities. They can only be consulted to facilitate development among people and under no circumstance should chiefs be allowed to play active roles in politics. The constitution has made it clear that chiefs who are interested in doing politics must abdicate the throne before wearing the political colour.
Currently the government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the Bawku municipality and its environs in the Upper East Region following renewed chieftaincy dispute in the area. It has placed a total ban on all persons in the area from carrying arms and ammunition or any offensive weapons. There were gun shots in the Bawku township on Tuesday night of November 23, 2021, resulting in heightened tension. The incident is said to be linked to a planned performance of a “Bawku Chief’s” funeral who died 41 years ago.
SOLUTION TO CHIEFTAINCY CONFLICTS
In resolving chieftaincy disputes, conflicts and stopping their politicization, the various houses of chiefs should be empowered and be the only institution for handling chieftaincy issues. Besides, there is the need to codify the lines of succession of chiefs in our country. Sanctions must also be applied to politicians and other influential personalities who interfere in the chieftaincy institution.
The government must strengthen our chieftaincy institution by providing it with the needed support and resources to serve as agents of change in their localities rather infiltrating into their ranks to divide them and the people. It is equally important for the people to respect that sacred institution and not to allow themselves by politicians and businessmen to use them as guinea pigs while their children are confined in the comfort of their homes enjoying. When you die for the sake of chieftaincy dispute and conflict, you die for nothing and, therefore, you need to reject any move by politicians and businessmen to fight chieftaincy battles with no basis and relevance.
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By Charles Neequaye
On Sunday, October 11, 2026, it was the turn of Ghanaian Catholics in Finland to lead the singing in the church service of the African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland (ACCF).
It was indeed a spirit-filled feeling for worshippers present. And for the Ghanaian migrants, the occasion also brought back to them memories of church services in their home country, Ghana.
The ACCF has a roster for each country/community to sing from time to time. Next Sunday will be the turn of the Nigerian community. Other communities that usually sing are the Kenyan/Tanzanian community, the Cameroonian, the Ugandan, group, etc.
A powerful religious experience
The mass services of the Chaplaincy usually give a powerful religious experience and a display of cultural diversity, especially in occasions such as when the Bishop of Helsinki, Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, celebrated mass with the Chaplaincy on Pentecost Day, May 24, 2026.
There was a similar time of spiritual joy last month (September 27, 2026) when Emeritus Bishop Teemu Sippo, former Bishop of Helsinki, visited the Chaplaincy. Bishop Teemu was the main celebrant, assisted by the Chaplain, Reverend Father Thomas Otieno.
Last Sunday, Reverend Father Bernard Sor, a Ghanaian Catholic priest based in Austria, was the main celebrant in the mass service where he performed a rite of baptism. Fr Bernard had celebrated mass a few months ago when he visited his sister and her husband in Helsinki. 
All these well-attended religious occasions indeed leave lasting memories. The homilies (peaching) by the priests usually emphasize religious tenets such as the importance of loving and serving God in truth, existing in peace with our fellow humans to promote unity in diversity, etc.
Unity in diversity and a colourful display of cultures
The African Chaplaincy church services usually produce impressive displays of diverse cultures from different parts of Africa and elsewhere. The events are often spiced by rich cultural displays of dances and colourful attires which are a delight to watch.
On special occasions, members of the Ghanaian Catholic community, in their gay and colourful kente attire and with adowa dance and music, usually lead the procession into the church. Other communities such as the Cameroonian, Nigerian, Kenyan and Tanzanian as well as Sudanese/South Sudanese groups also put up well-choreographed performances from their cultures.
The African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland
The African Chaplaincy was founded on June 4, 2017, which was a Pentecost Sunday, in a Pontifical High Mass celebrated by Monsignor Emeritus Sippo S.C.I., the then Bishop of Helsinki, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Parish Church in Helsinki.
The Chaplaincy was created by Bishop Teemu in collaboration with the Diocesan body when they detected a great flocking of African immigrants to Finland, the majority of whom were Catholics. This was to give the immigrants a possibility to integrate into the Finnish society by worshiping as Catholics and in their African cultural identity.
The responsibility of the Chaplaincy was given by Bishop Teemu to Father Dr Leonard Wobilla Shwei, who is thus the first Chaplain and ably led the Chaplaincy. He was succeeded a few years ago by Father Thomas Otieno, who continues to move the Chaplaincy forward. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
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She did not find out he was cheating. She found out he was drowning.
It was two weeks after their beautiful wedding. The jollof was still in the fridge. A loan officer called her number-not his-and politely asked, “Madam, please tell your husband to pay his overdue loan. We have been calling him.”
That was how she discovered her new husband had entered their marriage with a hidden debt of over GH¢ 40,000. No cheating. No other woman. Just a financial secret.
And that is how many Ghanaian marriages begin to die. Not with a shout, but with a secret alert on a phone.
We prepare for the wedding. We do not prepare for the wallet.
What is money honesty?
Let me define it simply. Money honesty is not that you both earn the same. It is that you both know the same. It is the ability to sit down and say without fear:
“This is how much I earn.”
“This is how much I owe.”
“This is how I was raised to see money.”
“This is what scares me about money.”
Financial transparency is not about control. It is about clarity. You cannot build trust on top of secrets.
Many couples tell me, “Counsellor, we love each other, love will handle money.” I always answer, “Love is the car, but money honesty is the fuel. Love without honesty cannot move.”
How To Buy Your Marriage Insurance Today – My 5-Step Protocol
If you are engaged, newly married, or even 20 years in marriage, you can still fix this. At Counsellor Prince & Associates Consult—CPAC, this is what I give couples:
Step 1: The 90-Minute Money Naked Session.
No phones, no blame. Each partner writes down on paper: Monthly income, monthly debts, monthly family obligations, savings, and your biggest money fear. Then you exchange papers. Read it. Don’t react for 24 hours. Just absorb.
Step 2: Create OUR Money, YOUR Money, My Money.
You need three pots. OUR money for rent, food, school fees, utilities, properties, and the like— joint contribution. YOUR money and MY money—a small agreed allowance no one questions. This stops the feeling of being controlled.
Step 3: The No-Secret Debt Rule.
Agree from today: No new loan, no new hire purchase, no new family financial commitment above GHS 500 without telling each other first. Not permission, but information.
Step 4: Talk About Your Money Personality.
Are you a Spender or a Saver? Are you Risky or Safe? Most Ghanaian marriages are a Spender married to a Saver. Neither is wrong. But if you don’t understand your partner’s personality, you will call his saving “stinginess” and her spending “wastefulness.”
Step 5: Do a Monthly 30-Minute Money Date
Not an argument date. Light, with tea. “How did we do this month? What worried you? What should we plan for next month?” Couples who do this divorce far less.
My Final Word
Before you say “I Do” at the altar, have pre-marital counselling and also have the money talk on the sofa.
Ask your partner:
“If I lost my job today, how long can we survive?”
“What debt are you bringing into this marriage?”
“How much do you send to your family monthly and will that continue?”
If he or she gets angry that you asked, don’t get married yet. A person who is angry about accountability will be abusive about money.
Marriage insurance is not bought at Star Assurance or Enterprise. It is bought in honest conversations when no one is watching.
The wedding costs one day. The marriage costs a lifetime. Don’t enter a lifetime contract and covenant with hidden costs.
You can still insure your marriage today.
Source:
Counselor Prince Offei, CPAC’s founder, is a leading Mental Health Professional, Marriage Counsellor, Author, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, and Spectator Newspaper Columnist. He writes on relationships, marriage, parenting, special needs support, and their connection to mental health. For therapy, counselling, or enquiries, contact Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Accra on 0559850604 / 0551428486.
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