Ghana government finalizes chieftaincy succession lines

The Ghanaian government is finalizing seventeen lines of succession for stools and skins to be submitted to Parliament. Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Mahama Ayariga stated these reforms aim to provide clarity, reduce disputes, and ensure stability within the chieftaincy institution.

In addition to succession reforms, the government is working to amend the Chieftaincy Act 2008 to restore the power of chiefs to summon subjects who breach laws. The Ministry is also upgrading office complexes for the Houses of Chiefs in newly created regions. To improve local accountability, all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have been directed to broadcast their statutory meetings live on local radio in local dialects.

Separately, advocates from The Chieftaincy Institute are calling for the constitutional review process to grant chieftaincy a mandate to lead local development. While the Constitution Review Committee has recommended decentralization measures such as the direct election of local chief executives, proponents argue that integrating traditional authorities as primary development agencies is necessary to address local development deficits and political discontinuity.