Examining the phenomenon of destoolment in the chieftaincy institution: An analysis of six cases from the Ashanti Region, Ghana

Abstract

The chieftaincy institution in Africa existed before the continent’s historical encounter with European missionaries. However, the African intelligentsia were not enthused about the incorporation of chiefs in the colonial administration and even questioned their significance in nation-building. In Ghana, for instance, the postindependent political terrain was characterised by destoolment and attempts to subvert the powers and functions of chiefs by political actors. Constitutionally, parliament is debarred from enacting laws that either confer or withdraw recognition or derogate the honour and dignity of the institution of chieftaincy. This notwithstanding, there have been numerous destoolments currently by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the King of the Asante Kingdom. Using a case study approach, this study examined the rationale for destoolment. The study found that chiefs were destooled due to the utilisation of land guards, multiple sales of land, bribery and corruption, and illegal mining among others. The paper recommends that chiefs engaged in bribery and corruption be sent to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for prosecution.