The Role of the Chief-King Among the Akans: A Theological Reflection

Résumé

The study seeks to explore the role of chiefs-kings among the Akan in Ghana vis-à-vis the functions of the District/Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies and the relevance of the chieftaincy institution in contemporary society. A literary approach was adopted for the study making use of analysed secondary data. The study findings indicated that whereas the functions of the District/Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies are political and administrative, that of the chiefs-kings among the Akan in Ghana are executive, legislative, judicial, religious (spiritual) and agents of development. The functions of the Assemblies are therefore complementary, collaborative and co-operative to that of the chiefs-kings. Thus, the District/Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies and the chieftaincy institutions are not opposed to each other but collaborative in function. The article maintains that the chieftaincy institution is still relevant in contemporary society despite the abuses by some chiefs-kings and cannot be replaced by the District/Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies. The study recommends that the District/Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies and the chiefs-kings should recognise each other as partners and collaborators in their jurisdictions and not as competitors or opponents. The Assemblies should recognize that the chiefs-kings are the custodians of the land and intermediaries between the living and the ancestors and give them their due rights. As such, the chiefs-kings hold the keys to the peace and development of their kingdoms; and chiefs-kings should serve their subjects as role models and govern them with humility, justice and peace. The study contributes to the understanding of the chieftaincy institution among the Akan in Ghana.

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