Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien Department of Anthropology and African Studies Arbeitspapiere / Working Papers Nr. 124 Johannes Knierzinger Chieftaincy and Development in Ghana: From Political Intermediaries to Neotraditional Development Brokers 2011 AP IFEAS 124/2011 Herausgegeben von / The Working Papers are edited by: Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Forum 6, D-55099 Mainz, Germany. Tel. +49-6131-3923720; Email:
[email protected]; http://www.ifeas.uni-mainz.de http://www.ifeas.uni-mainz.de/workingpapers/Arbeitspapiere.html Geschäftsführende Herausgeberin / Managing Editor: Eva Spies (
[email protected]) Copyright remains with the author. Bitte zitieren als / Please cite as: Knierzinger, Johannes, 2011: Chieftaincy and Development in Ghana: From Political Intermediaries to Neotraditional Development Brokers. Arbeitspapiere des Instituts für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien der Johannes Gutenberg- Universität Mainz (Working Papers of the Department of Anthropology and African Studies of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) 124. <URL: http://www.ifeas.uni-mainz.de/workingpapers/AP124.pdf> Johannes Knierzinger: Chieftaincy and Development in Ghana: From Political Intermediaries to Neotraditional Development Brokers Abstract Ghanaian societies are still embedded in neotraditional structures, even in urban areas. Contrary to many prophecies of doom since independence, chieftaincy is still very popular. One of the reasons for this persistence is the remarkable malleability and fluidity of neotraditional systems. Particularly on the local level, a considerable percentage of the pop- ulation is permanently engaged in negotiations and disputes over neotraditional offices and corresponding claims. This leads to a high degree of political participation, but also to conflicts and to the abuse of chieftaincy as an instrument of elite formation.