Mahama pushes codification of chieftaincy succession in Upper West to end disputes

President John Mahama says government will support efforts to clearly document chieftaincy succession processes in the Upper West Region to reduce conflicts over skins and stools.

He said disputes over rightful successors continue to threaten peace in some traditional areas because succession lines, royal families and rotational arrangements are often not properly codified.

President Mahama made the remarks on Wednesday, July 8, when members of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House.

According to him, a documented succession system will help identify the legitimate royal families and clarify the order in which succession should take place.

He said this would remove uncertainty and make it more difficult for unqualified persons to be installed as traditional leaders.

The President commended chiefs in the Upper West Region for helping to maintain peace, especially at a time when countries within the wider Sahel region continue to experience instability.

“Peace remains the foundation of prosperity, and I commend the Regional House of Chiefs for its role in keeping the Upper West as one of Ghana's most peaceful regions amid the instability in the wider Sahel area,” he said.

President Mahama, however, warned that traditional succession processes must be protected from manipulation.

He said some kingmakers have allowed financial inducements to influence decisions on who should occupy traditional positions.

“But like the President of the House of Chiefs said, we should continue and go ahead to codify the succession. Nowadays, the kingmakers have become corrupt. And so, even though they know who is the rightful person, a big envelope can change their minds,” he stated.

The President said such conduct sometimes results in persons without legitimate royal claims being pushed forward for installation.

“They go and bring somebody who has absolutely nothing to do with the royal family and want to install the person as the leader of the traditional area. And that is what creates the conflicts,” he said.

He explained that codifying the various families, gates and rotational systems would give traditional authorities and communities a reliable reference point whenever a vacancy occurs.

President Mahama said the move would strengthen peace, reduce litigation and help traditional areas focus on development.

“If we codify the families and the various gates and the rotational succession, we should have more peace in this country than we have seen lately,” he added.