Politicization of Chieftaincy in Africa: a Case Study of Bono Kyempim, Ghana Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh
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Politicization of Chieftaincy in Africa: A Case Study of Bono Kyempim, Ghana Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh Politicization of Chieftaincy in Africa: A Case Study of Bono Kyempim, Ghana Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh University of Ghana, Accra. Ghana Abstract This paper examines the active participation of some Bono chiefs in partisan politics in Ghana in the 1950s. Using interviews, archival data and books as the main sources of information and a qualitative approach, the research reveals that Asante’s administrative strategies thwart- ed Bono chiefs’ efforts to assert their autonomy from Asante rule in the pre-1950 era. The original aim of the Bono Kyempim Federation, formed in 1949, was to unite the chiefs’ ranks to rebuild the Bono Manso kingdom, destroyed by Asante in the eighteenth century. How- ever, the chiefs eventually associated themselves with politicians and by 1959, a Bono-Ahafo Region had been created by the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), the political party that the chiefs supported. How far-reaching was the chiefs’ relations with politicians? Keywords: autonomy, Asanteman, Chieftaincy, colonialism, politics ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh is a lecturer of History at the University of Ghana. He holds a PhD from the same university. He has published in renowned journals including Routledge, Africa Today and Journal of Asian and African Affairs. His areas of research include traditional author- ity in Africa, traditional states’ relations and Church and Society. He has interest in research in sports and society in Africa and mainstream political history of Ghana. Nordic Journal of African Studies – Vol 27 No 4 (2018) 1 (17) Politicization of Chieftaincy in Africa: A Case Study of Bono Kyempim, Ghana Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh INTRODUCTION participated in national politics in the immedi- ate pre-independence era in Ghana’s political The chieftaincy institution in Ghana compris- history. This article seeks to discuss the ori- es the chief, queenmother, traditional priests, gins and significance of this important histori- religious practitioners and other traditional cal development in Ghana’s political history functionaries and has since pre-colonial times among the Bono people of central Ghana.1 been the medium for the expression of social, political, religious and economic authority. The chief is father of the traditional state and CHIEFTAINCY IN the main priest. These roles make him an im- HISTORIOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT portant representative and the legitimate link between the ancestors and the living (Yankah, Chieftaincy is one of the intriguing and com- 1995: 13). By ritual performances on his en- plex areas of study on the African continent stoolment, the chief acquires the character due to the important role it plays in the tradi- traits of the ancestors, a sacred personality, tional society. It is an enduring traditional insti- authority, power and the legal status to rule. tution in Ghana and has displayed remarkable To recognize the transformation of his person, resilience from pre-colonial through colonial the Akan chief is given the title Nana, which and post-colonial times (Odotei and Awedoba, is reserved for the ancestors only (Sarpong, 2006: 11). Different scholars in different dis- 1971: 54). The Nana title legitimizes him or ciplines have comprehensively discussed the her as the rightful ancestor with the mandate institution since colonial times in Ghana. For of the ancestors to rule the community in line example, the scholarly articles in Awedoba with their values, ideas and traditions. With and Odotei (2006) have discussed relations his counselors’ support, the chief exercises ex- between chiefs in ethnic groups and the execu- ecutive, judicial, military and religious powers tive, legislative, judiciary, military, economic and ensures the maintenance of law and order and religious functions of chiefs. These articles in his traditional state. He collaborates with have helped to explain why the chieftaincy in- his elders to prevent external attacks, punish stitution still commands influence in Ghana in criminals and dispense justice. The chief is the the twenty-first century, despite the entrench- custodian of land which he supervises for his ment of democratic rule and the expansion of people. He is obliged to celebrate festivals and state powers. Other studies, including, Busia’s perform ceremonies to strengthen ties with comprehensive study of chieftaincy in Asante the ancestors and to remind him of his close- (1968), Rathbone (2000), Jean M. Allman ness to the ancestors (Akrong, 1991: 197). As (1993), John Dunn and AF Robertson (1973), a sacred person, the chief ceases to be chief and Meyerowitz (1962), have also examined anytime his actions run contrary to his office. chiefs, chieftaincy disputes and the behaviour He exhibits high moral standards, seeks to of royal families using both interdisciplinary bind the society together and to preserve the and multidisciplinary approaches. moral life bequeathed by the ancestors (Ak- rong, 1991: 175). As such, citizens expect the 1 Bono is an Akan word that is used to refer to the chief to exhibit goodconduct, including kind- people and traditional states in most parts of the study ness, gentleness, generosity, care and more area. Earliest European writers wrote it as Brong. importantly, fairness and neutrality in partisan Since the nineteenth century, Brong, instead of Bono has been used in official records. Asante was also politics (Akrong, 1991: 175). Contrary to this written more often as ‘Ashanti’ by both the British expectation, several Ghanaian chiefs actively colonial authorities and many scholars since colonial times. Nordic Journal of African Studies – Vol 27 No 4 (2018) 2 (17) Politicization of Chieftaincy in Africa: A Case Study of Bono Kyempim, Ghana Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh Although studies in chieftaincy are ex- elderly with sufficient knowledge about his- tensive, continuous research of the institution torical developments in Bono-Ahafo are no is crucial in view of the role the institution more, and those living are unwilling to di- plays in the Ghanaian society. The involve- vulge past information about their states’ rela- ment of chiefs in partisan politics, and its sig- tions with politicians. The author is therefore nificance in particular, needs a comprehensive grateful to Nana Kofi Aboagye, chief linguist study and that is what this research seeks to of Takyiman (now deceased), Mr. Samuel Ad- do. Apart from adding to current historiogra- ane, a retired educationist, Nana Yeboa Asua- phy on chieftaincy studies, this paper supports ma, a sub-chief, Dormaa-Ahenkro, and the the assertion that chieftaincy in Ghana came few other respondents, who willingly granted under intense pressure during the regime of the author face-to-face oral interviews. Some Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first Prime Minis- respondents would however, only discuss cur- ter and President from 1951 to 1966. It argues rent issues in the Bono chieftaincy system and however that unlike other chiefdoms that suf- referred the author to published books on As- fered under Nkrumah, Bono chieftaincy ben- ante by Busia (1968), Ward (1948), A History efitted from the Nkrumah government’s poli- of the Gold Coast, Claridge (1915), A History cies on chieftaincy. The author believes also of the Gold Coast and Ashanti, and other au- that literature on relations between national thors. In the absence of unused sources, the politics and chieftaincy in Ghana is inade- research relied mainly on the limited archival quate as partisan politics has been practiced in data, information provided by respondents Ghana since the late 1940s. The author hopes and secondary data. that this study will further explain the reasons for Bono-Ahafo chiefs’ involvement in poli- tics in the 1950s and add to ongoing studies on ORIGINS OF THE BONO the significance of the chieftaincy institution CHIEFTAINCY CRISIS in Ghana in the twenty-first century. The Bono area, currently referred to as “Brong”, comprises the twenty-one admin- SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY istrative districts in the northern half of the Bono-Ahafo Region.2 The northern part of the As a historical research, the author relied on Bono area has boundaries with the Northern archival material, secondary data and personal Region of Ghana. To the south with the Ahafo interviews. He sought to use archival resourc- district and the Asante Region, to the east with es as much as possible but finding them was the Volta Region and to the west with Cote very difficult because early European scholars d’Ivoire. It is estimated that the Bono region did not see Bono as an Asante territory but as has a geographical area of about 9,624 square part of Asante. They only mentioned impor- miles.3 The Bono are an Akan ethnic group tant historical developments in the Bono area and speak a dialect which is distinct from that in passing. Besides, some useful information 2 The government of Ghana keeps creating districts on Bono chieftaincy in the national and re- across the country. It has since 13 February 2019 di- gional archives of Ghana are missing or where vided the Bono-Ahafo Region into Bono North, Bono and Ahafo Regions. they are available, are not usable anymore be- 3 cause lawyers have since 1959 overused files For the estimated size of Bono, see PRAAD’ K, ARG 1/20/4/81. Annual Report, Western Province of Asante to contest numerous interstate and intrastate 1934-1935. The population of Bono in 1934-35 was chieftaincy and land disputes. Chiefs and the estimated at about 182,000. The estimated population of Ghana is about thirty million in February, 2019. Nordic Journal of African Studies – Vol 27 No 4 (2018) 3 (17) Politicization of Chieftaincy in Africa: A Case Study of Bono Kyempim, Ghana Kwame Adum-Kyeremeh of Asante. They are distinguished from Asante century however, Asante defeated the Bono also on the basis of the days of occurrence of towns, incorporated them into the expanding their main periodic festivals such as abono Asante kingdom and placed them under the nne which falls on Wednesday, Thursday and supervision of Asante chiefs in Kumase, the Fridays; whilst the Asante have the akwasidae Asante capital.