Traditional Political Institutions and Chiefs
POLI 112
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Sessions 3&4 : Traditional Political Institutions
Lecturer: Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO
, Department of Political Science
Traditional Political Institutions
Defined
•
By Traditional Political Institutions we refer to the institution
of chieftaincy
•
Chiefs play a crucial role in their various communities and
areas of local jurisdictions.
•
Before colonization, there were areas in West Africa referred
to as acephalous societies. These societies had no chiefs with
centralized authority.
•
On the contrary, some of the societies have centralized
authorities epitomized by the institution of chieftaincy
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO, Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 2
Features of The Ideal-Type Bureacracy
•
The Ideal-Type Bureaucracy has the following features
•
Rational and Calculable Rules
•
Impersonality
•
Permanence
•
Anonymity
•
Neutrality
•
Meritocracy
•
Proper Filing system
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
.
Slide 3
It is for example practiced in Britain while the
Legitimacy of Chiefs
•
There are various sources of legitimacy of chiefs.
There include:
•
Hereditary
•
Conquest
•
Descent
•
Membership of a particular ruling family or
•
Compensation or reward for bravery or distinguished
service to the community
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 4
Selection of Chiefs
•
No one was born a chief. There are elaborate
selection process in determining who must be the
ruler of the people in the traditional setting
•
Among the Akans for example, the traditional
officials who play leading role in the selection of
chiefs are the krontihene, gyaasehene and queen-
mother
•
After their selection, the chief is outdoored for public
acceptance by the entire community
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 5
Qualities of a Chief
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 6
•
In selecting a chief, traditional officials look out for the
following qualities:
•
Humility
•
Generosity
•
Good character
•
Good name and reputation
•
Manliness
•
Strong physique
•
Functions of A Chief
•
Governance, in charge of the day-today
administration of the traditional community
•
Settlement of disputes and ensuring justice
•
Making bye laws and ensuring their enforcement
•
Commander-in-chief of the local army
•
Spiritual leadership
•
Custodian of traditional norms, values, etc
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 7
Restraints on the Powers of the Chief
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 8
•
Deposition
•
The Role of the Commoners
•
Prohibition Against Holding Property
•
The Role of the gods and ancestors
•
Membership of Secret Society
•
Revolt
•
Desertion
Image of a chief
•
.
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 9
The Role of Chiefs in Modern Times
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 10
The Role of Chiefs in Modern Times
(Cont)
•
Even though some have argued that the institution of
chieftaincy is anachronistic and irrelevant, it has
been forcefully pointed out that chiefs are still
relevant particularly in the rural hinterlands.
•
In modern times, they can play the following roles:
–
Poverty reduction, through the provision of short-term
loans to people to do business
–
Providing basic education for the rural child
–
Increasing access to productive assets of the rural people
such as land, capital etc
Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS
Slide 11
The Role of Chiefs in Modern Times
(Cont)
–
Encouraging popular participation in the development
process
–
Increasing the political, social and cultural choices of the
people
–
Making efforts to control population Growth
–
Enhancing the health and nutritional status of their people
–
Taking the initiative to control environmental degradation
–
Paying particular attention to the problems of women in
the rural areas.
Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS
Slide 12
Reading List
•
Refer to Unit 2, pp. 24-39 of Poli 112 (Political
Institutions) Modules
•
Gyampo, R.E.V.
The state of Political Institutions in
Ghana,
(Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert Academic
Publishing Inc. 2012) pp. 31-62
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 13
Concluding Remark
THANK YOU
R.E.V GYAMPO
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Slide 14
Defined as the institution of chieftaincy, chiefs in various communities hold crucial roles. Explore the legitimacy, selection process, and qualities of chiefs in traditional societies, along with their governance functions.
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Presentation Transcript
Lecturer: Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO, Department of Political Science College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/2015 2016/2017
Traditional Political Institutions Defined By Traditional Political Institutions we refer to the institution of chieftaincy Chiefs play a crucial role in their various communities and areas of local jurisdictions. Before colonization, there were areas in West Africa referred to as acephalous societies. These societies had no chiefs with centralized authority. On the contrary, some of the societies have centralized authorities epitomized by the institution of chieftaincy Slide 2 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO, Dept of Political Science, UG
It is for example practiced in Britain while the Features of The Ideal-Type Bureacracy The Ideal-Type Bureaucracy has the following features Rational and Calculable Rules Impersonality Permanence Anonymity Neutrality Meritocracy Proper Filing system Slide 3 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG .
Legitimacy of Chiefs There are various sources of legitimacy of chiefs. There include: Hereditary Conquest Descent Membership of a particular ruling family or Compensation or reward for bravery or distinguished service to the community Slide 4 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Selection of Chiefs No one was born a chief. There are elaborate selection process in determining who must be the ruler of the people in the traditional setting Among the Akans for example, the traditional officials who play leading role in the selection of chiefs are the krontihene, gyaasehene and queen- mother After their selection, the chief is outdoored for public acceptance by the entire community Slide 5 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Qualities of a Chief In selecting a chief, traditional officials look out for the following qualities: Humility Generosity Good character Good name and reputation Manliness Strong physique Slide 6 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Functions of A Chief Governance, in charge of the day-today administration of the traditional community Settlement of disputes and ensuring justice Making bye laws and ensuring their enforcement Commander-in-chief of the local army Spiritual leadership Custodian of traditional norms, values, etc Slide 7 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Restraints on the Powers of the Chief Deposition The Role of the Commoners Prohibition Against Holding Property The Role of the gods and ancestors Membership of Secret Society Revolt Desertion Slide 8 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Image of a chief . Slide 9 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
The Role of Chiefs in Modern Times Slide 10 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
The Role of Chiefs in Modern Times (Cont) Even though some have argued that the institution of chieftaincy is anachronistic and irrelevant, it has been forcefully pointed out that chiefs are still relevant particularly in the rural hinterlands. In modern times, they can play the following roles: Poverty reduction, through the provision of short-term loans to people to do business Providing basic education for the rural child Increasing access to productive assets of the rural people such as land, capital etc Slide 11 Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS
The Role of Chiefs in Modern Times (Cont) Encouraging popular participation in the development process Increasing the political, social and cultural choices of the people Making efforts to control population Growth Enhancing the health and nutritional status of their people Taking the initiative to control environmental degradation Paying particular attention to the problems of women in the rural areas. Slide 12 Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS
Reading List Refer to Unit 2, pp. 24-39 of Poli 112 (Political Institutions) Modules Gyampo, R.E.V. The state of Political Institutions in Ghana, (Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing Inc. 2012) pp. 31-62 Slide 13 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
Concluding Remark THANK YOU R.E.V GYAMPO Slide 14 Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG
