Modernise old practices of enstooling successors
The Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Mr Henry Seidu Daannaa, has called on traditional leaders to modernise and amend the old practices of enstooling their successors to prevent conflict and land dispute in traditional areas in the country.
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“If we don’t comply with the modernisation and amendment of the old practices, our future heads would blame us for the conflicts in the traditional areas,” he said.
Mr Seidu Daannaa made this known yesterday during an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra.
Causes of the dispute
He explained that most of the conflicts and disputes in traditional areas originated from poor traditional jurisdiction or the enstooling of the wrong person.
The minister indicated that misunderstanding between cattle feeding on people’s farm and acquisition of land between two traditional areas were key factors to conflict.
Mr Seidu Daannaa said these conflicts usually came up as a result of the improper documentation of our historical records over the years.
He explained that historical records would have educated and sensitised the traditional leaders on the way forward in enstooling a rightful head to its throne.
Legislative Instrument (LI)
Controlling the problems, Mr Seidu Daannaa said the constitution had put in place a succession law known as the Legislative Instrument (LI), which his ministry was still pursuing to ensure that most traditional areas in the country had access to it.
According to him, the L.I, which is a customary law, provides principles to guide and reduce chieftaincy conflicts in the country.
Others are still in a documentary form, yet to be posted”.
“I believe that if these laws are posted, it will reduce conflict and dispute in the traditional areas,” Mr Seidu Daannaa said.
Land dispute
Highlighting land issues, especially galamsey activities, he pointed out that his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, was working to curtail the problem of galamsey.
Mr Seidu Daannaa said “even though land matters do not fall under the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, we are working together with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to fight against the practice of galamsey in the country.”
He explained that the collaboration between the two ministries came in the realisation that 80 per cent of the land belonged to traditional rulers and citizens of the community.
Mr Seidu Daannaa stressed that workshops were being organised to sensitise the chiefs to the need to fight the practice of galamsey in their various regions.
The way forward
The minister said an amendment bill had been sent to Parliament to assist the traditional areas which lacked the services of the police and military to fight the illegal practice in their areas.
According to him, the amendment bill mandates the chiefs to assist the government to bring to book any culprit found practising such act in their traditional areas.
He, therefore, advised the traditional leaders, especially those who enstooled people, to follow the right processes to prevent succession disputes.