Veteran journalist and Managing Editor of The Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Junior has questioned the relevance of the chieftaincy institution in modern day Ghana.
According to the senior journalist, the chieftaincy institution has become a source of numerous conflicts which have led to loss of precious lives and destruction of valuable properties. He added that the institution has become an albatross on the neck of the security of the state draining huge sums of resources.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV with Dr. Randy Abbey on Wednesday, he further stated that when it comes to the chieftaincy institution and the application of the law, there is no consistency and principle resulting in total confusion and chaos.
To him, the institution has become old-fashioned which requires a total overhaul.
He explained that, “when it comes to chieftaincy, it is obvious that there is no consistency. There is no principle in the application of the law and so on. I am very worried about that. In my view, with all the things that are happening with chieftaincy, are an indicative of the fact that this institution institution is anachronistic and therefore we ought to take steps to restore sanity and order.”
“Look at the number of people who are dying out of chieftaincy disputes and so on. So many people are dying, properties being destroyed, burnt and so on in the name of chieftaincy,” he emphasized.
Considering the origins of the chieftaincy institution, Kwesi Pratt is of the opinion that the institution should not be encouraged.
To him, why should an institution which foundation were warlords waging wars against vulnerable groups, seizing their lands and properties, taking them as slaves be still entertained in a democratic state.
“What is chieftaincy? How do people become chiefs?,” he quizzed. He continued that, “people become chiefs only because their great great grandparents were warlords. They attacked other people, captured them as slaves and seized their properties. That’s all. Show me how chiefs came about? And we encourage this…?”
Mr. Pratt was speaking on the sidelines of the recent chieftaincy disputes in Bawku which has resulted in a tussle between government and the Mamprugu Traditional Council.
