Several Ghanaians, including Dormaahene Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, have argued that the Chieftaincy Act’s exclusive mention of the Asantehene is biassed and requires correction.
Dormaahene Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II contends that there are other paramount chiefs in Ghana who hold similar positions as overlords like the Asantehene.
However, these traditional rulers are not acknowledged in the Chieftaincy Act, creating an impression that the Otumfuo is superior to all of them.
Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II has called for the inclusion of these paramount chiefs, such as the Yagbonwura, Yaa-Naa, Nayiri, and the Ga Mantse, who oversee other paramount chiefs, to be added to the Chieftaincy Act.
Historian and lawyer Yaw Anokye, commenting on this matter in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, expressed that these calls are not justified.
He explained that although the mentioned paramount chiefs are also overlords like the Asantehene, the Asantehene deserves specific mention in the constitution due to his superior powers and historical significance.
“They (the overloads) are placed under the same status but the Asantehene’s own is more conspicuous. Because he came from a broken nation so he is more recognised.
“They (the other overlords) are living in the shadows of the Asantehene, it would never be justified to put them in the same category. The name Asantehene there (in the Chieftaincy Act) covers the rest and it is enough,” he said.
He further stated, “Apart from him being on top of paramount chiefs, he also has the power to enstool paramount chiefs, he also has the power to destool paramount chiefs. And below the paramount chiefs, he (the Asantehene) goes to the level of divisional chiefs and Odikros in Ashanti and his influence is there and these others (the other overlords) exercise a few of those powers”.
He further mentioned that, excluding the Asantehene, every traditional stool in Ghana possesses kingmakers responsible for the enstoolment or destoolment of paramount chiefs.
“In Ashanti, the Asantehene can say this person I don’t accept this person to be a chief but in other parts of the country, once a candidate has been introduced by a queen mother and they have got their kingmakers’ (agreement),
there is no power above the person who can say yes or no… In Ashanti, it is a different ball game; that is why we give him that singular recognition.”
Section 58 of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) mentions the categories of chiefs in Ghana as follows:
(a) the Asantehene and Paramount Chiefs,
(b) Divisional Chiefs,
(c) Sub-divisional Chiefs,
(d) Adikrofo, and
(e) other chiefs recognised by the National House.