Chiefs urged to codify succession lines to curb chieftaincy disputes

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has appealed to traditional rulers across the country to expedite the codification of succession lines to bring clarity and stability to the chieftaincy system and prevent unnecessary conflicts.

He noted that the absence of codified succession laws had created opportunities for individuals, including migrants, to falsely claim royal lineage, making it difficult to distinguish the rightful heirs from impostors.

He explained that under Article 270 of the Constitution, Parliament cannot pass laws to regulate chieftaincy. It was therefore crucial for the chiefs to take the lead in codifying traditional succession rules.

“The law must empower you to codify your own line of succession. Once that is done, it eliminates disputes and provides a clear framework for enforcement.

When the time comes to apply the law, we can simply refer to the established code, ensuring that traditions are upheld and followed accordingly,” Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said at the general meeting of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs in Dodowa last Wednesday.

He was accompanied by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Akweley Ocloo.

Chieftaincy dispute

The minister also called on traditional leaders to find alternative ways of resolving chieftaincy disputes which he described as a major threat to national security.

He noted that currently, the country had 11 curfews in place, all stemming from chieftaincy conflicts, which were draining national resources and diverting focus from development.

“I want to make a passionate appeal to Nananom and chiefs across our country to use their own mechanisms to resolve most of these disputes. Chieftaincy disputes are the biggest security challenge we face today,” he emphasised.

To enhance security collaboration, the minister proposed amending the law to allow the Regional Houses of Chiefs to have a representative at Regional and District Security Council meetings.

That, he said, would ensure chiefs were informed about security issues and could relay important information to their communities.

Additionally, he urged chiefs to lead community sensitisation programmes on security concerns, noting that citizens listened to traditional authorities more than government officials.

“The people listen to you more than they listen to us. If chiefs lead these engagements, they will understand the security implications of their actions and inaction better,” he stated.

He assured the chiefs of the government’s commitment to national security and called for their cooperation in maintaining peace, which he described as very essential for business growth and national development.

Mrs Ocloo said as Regional Minister, it was her primary responsibility to ensure peace within the region.

She gave an assurance that she would work closely with the Regional House of Chiefs, security agencies and other sector ministers to resolve chieftaincy issues in the region. 

The President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs (GARHC), Oboade Notse King Odaifio Welentsi III, described the chieftaincy situation in the region as relatively stable.

However, he acknowledged that disputes still existed.

He expressed concern over the growing trend of rival chiefs challenging the authority of substantive chiefs in their respective traditional areas, calling it a significant security threat to the region.

This issue, he noted, often manifested during the celebration of Homowo and other traditional festivals, where rival chiefs wrongfully assumed the roles of substantive chiefs.