Let’s part ways with chieftaincy disputes

Disputes are a part of human existence and so long as people continue to live together in communities, there will always be differences.

It is, however, the unwillingness of parties to resolve their differences when they occur that should be a matter of concern to all.

Although the law courts have been provided to handle disputes among individuals and institutions, some people, after resorting to the legal system, later withdraw their cases for amicable settlement.

Indeed, the Judiciary has always recommended alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as the preferred way to handle thorny issues.

This is because the resort to the courts sometimes tends to be very expensive as a result of legal fees, the numerous adjournments, among other costs.

Ghana, like any other country, has had its fair share of disputes with other countries.

However, it is the nation’s desire for peace that has seen it always taking steps to resolve issues with its neighbours.

Unfortunately, that national quest for peace that has been exhibited in Ghana’s relations with the international community has not always been the forte of many individuals.

This is especially so when the bone of contention is a landed property or kingship.

The country has experienced land and chieftaincy disputes that have trudged on for many years, without an end in sight.

While the list of land disputes has been endless as a result of the bottlenecks in land administration and land acquisition, chieftaincy disputes have always put the security of the whole nation at risk.

Chieftaincy disputes have also cost the nation a great deal in its bid to ensure peace, halted development in many areas and resulted in the loss of lives.

The Dagbon, Bawku and Alavanyo-Nkonya chieftaincy disputes are all examples of disputes that have persisted for years because of the uncompromising posture of the factions involved.

But perhaps all is not lost in the fight to end chieftaincy disputes without the shedding of innocent blood.

Okuapeman has shown the way by uniting again after a two-decade-long dispute that fractured the union of the Akuapem State.

The Daily Graphic adds its voice to President John Mahama’s call on all feuding factions in chieftaincy disputes to take a cue from Okuapeman and smoke the peace pipe.

For 20 years, all the divisions of the Akuapem Traditional Area broke away from the age-old union, a development which led to serious security concerns and threatened to break the Akuapem State and its traditions.

Now that the factions have agreed to bury the hatchet, with the breakaway divisions returning to offer their allegiance to the Okuapehene, we wish the Akuapem State years of unity and peace that will translate into more development for the area.

Chieftaincy disputes are destructive and must not be entertained under any circumstance.

We, therefore, urge all the factions currently involved in chieftaincy disputes across the country to let go of their entrenched positions and make a commitment to resolve the disputes amicably.

If they do so, they will provide the right atmosphere needed to attract development to their traditional areas.