Resolving Chieftaincy Disputes By Customary Procedure In Ghana

The Chieftaincy Institution in Ghana is the oldest socio-political system of governance and was largely responsible for the administration of the ethnic groups of Ghana, before the advent of the Western Governance system. The Chieftaincy Institution is the apex of the traditional system of governance and places Ohene (Chief) or Ohemaa (queen/queenmother) as the head of a political community. The chieftaincy institution in Ghana has been confronted with many challenges dating back to the colonial era. In recent times, it has been rocked by numerous disputes and conflicts on an unprecedented scale. This notwithstanding, one of the traditional areas in Ghana, Asanteman, seems to have developed effective customary mechanisms for dispute resolution that have helped to resolve many intractable disputes in the area. The successful dispute resolution mechanism of the Asanteman Traditional Council is the focus of this study. It affords alternative dispute resolution practitioners tools for quicker conflict resolution in Africa.