When the Chief is Away: Managing a Leadership Vacuum in a Ghanaian Community
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Peace Review
Abstract
The debate on the relevance of traditional authorities in contemporary societies has been ongoing. However, less emphasis has been given to the
effect of the absence of legitimate traditional leaders in some communities.
To address this knowledge gap, the current study adopted a qualitative
research approach to gather data from 8 participants concerning how the
absence of a traditional leader has affected the peace and development of
Aburaso in Ghana. Using the applied leadership vacuum concept and the
transformational leadership theory as the theoretical underpinnings of the
study, the findings revealed that while the absence of a traditional leader
has hindered development initiatives, land management, and social cohesion; the leadership succession dispute has also resulted in a continuous
conflict and the lack of peace. This study concludes that traditional authorities remain pivotal development actors and recommends establishing
robust succession frameworks to prevent prolonged leadership vacuums.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Leadership, Ghanaian, Chief