Chieftaincy is one of the most enduring traditional institutions in Ghana, which has displayed remarkable resilience from pre-colonial through colonial to postcolonial times. In the past, the role of a chief was to lead his people in war to defend, protect and extend their territories. The modern role is to combat poverty and other social ills: illiteracy, ignorance, environmental degradation, and the depletion of resources. Nowadays, chiefs are under pressure to achieve good governance in their traditional areas. They are challenged to integrate tradition and modernity, a process about which there is considerable debate. They carry out their duties in an increasingly globalised world where the accent is on democracy, human rights, health delivery, employment, human development and regional integration. Their ability to come to terms with these challenges will provide an indication of their relevance and the relevance of the institution to Ghana?s long-term development. This massive volume is arguably the most comprehensive and detailed scholarly study of the institution of chieftaincy to appear on the subject to date. The subjects and approaches are wide- ranging, and cover most aspects of the institution in every geographical area in Ghana. Some thirty contributors from the humanities and social sciences tell the story of chieftaincy past and present from a multitude of perspectives: anthropological, historical, economic, sociological, gender, literary, religious and philosophical.

Chieftaincy in Ghana is an extensive account of the many roles of chiefs in modern society. A. Kodzo Paaku Kludze provides detailed accounts and analyses of the law practices, rituals, and customs of chieftaincy. Kludze begins his study with a historical account bringing his analyses to the present, and speculates on the future of chieftaincy in its formal and informal roles in the changing social milieu. The author's close personal background and association with chieftaincy allows him to shed light on the mysterious practices and supernatural connections. Kludze offers an authoritative and comprehensive study of chieftaincy in the context of the modern social, political, and legal institutions of Ghana.

Based on extensive research ... and applying formidable expertise in African history, philosophy, historical anthropology and religious studies [this is] a superb analysis of the history and transformation of the roles of chieftaincy in the religious institutions, rituals and ideas among the Asante.

Introduction : contesting space and authority in a colonial capital --Situating Ga institutions in the European colonial milieu --Land legislation, commodification, and effects in Accra --Negotiating chieftaincy, the Ga stool, and colonial intervention --Succession disputes, the Ga state council, and the future of chieftaincy --Contesting property in Accra and its periurban locales --Conclusion.