Journal of Intra-African Studies No. 3 pp 47-64

Abstract

Using case studies from Botswana, South Africa and Nigeria, this paper argues that institutionalized chieftaincy in Ghana currently enjoys more leverage than those in other African countries. The attempt here is not so much to offer reasons explaining the resilience (the why) of chieftaincy in Africa, but how traditional authorities have been incorporated into the modern state. Beyond this, this paper uses the Ghanaian example of institutionalized chieftaincy (The Houses of Chiefs system) to show how the chieftaincy institution which is largely a non-rational institution and lacks legitimacy, has gradually become bureaucratic and legitimate. More significantly, this paper reveals that whilst the role of institutionalized chieftaincy in Africa is reducing significantly, in judicial administration, institutionalized chieftaincy in Ghana is rather increasing in significance. The objective of this paper is realized through a combination of many methods; primary documents such as constitutions and courts acts, observations, interviews, and secondary material from books and articles.