Chieftaincy disputes major source of insecurity-Mahama calls for urgent action
President John Dramani Mahama has identified chieftaincy and land boundary disputes as a major source of insecurity in Ghana, calling for urgent and coordinated action to prevent such conflicts from escalating into violence.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, President Mahama said growing evidence shows that many of the country’s conflicts are rooted in protracted chieftaincy disagreements and unresolved land issues.
“One area of concern is security and conflict, and we have realized that a major contributor to conflicts across the country is the chieftaincy institution and issues of land boundaries,” Mahama stated.
He explained that while the chieftaincy institution remains a vital part of Ghana’s governance and cultural heritage, disputes within it often create instability at the community level if not resolved promptly.
President Mahama pointed out that the 1992 Constitution limits the role of government in directly intervening in chieftaincy matters, placing the responsibility for dispute resolution largely on traditional authorities.
“The 1992 Constitution bars government from interfering in chieftaincy matters. It clearly states that issues of chieftaincy disputes should be handled by the chiefs themselves,” he noted.
Despite this constitutional arrangement, the President admitted that existing mechanisms have not always delivered swift or lasting solutions, allowing some disputes to fester and degenerate into violence.
“It looks like it is difficult. Government only intervenes when law and order breaks down, but we cannot interfere in the customs and usages of the chieftaincy institution,” he added.
He therefore called for urgent action through stronger collaboration between government and traditional leaders, particularly the National House of Chiefs and Regional Houses of Chiefs, to address disputes before they escalate.
“We believe that it is something that we need to work on with the National House of Chiefs and the Regional Houses of Chiefs to ensure that these issues are addressed before they degenerate into conflict,” Mahama stressed.
