The debate over whether Ghana has kings or not has been reignited by a lawyer and politician who has named five paramount chiefs that he considers to be king. Nana Obiri Boahen, a former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said that based on his knowledge of history, the chiefs of Anlo, Ashanti, Gonja, Mamprugu and Dagbon can be regarded as kings.
He made this remark in a radio interview shared on Dadzie Multimedia Facebook page, where he also praised the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his initiative to raise funds to renovate the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi. He said that the project was a good example of how traditional leaders can contribute to national development and unite the people across political lines.
He suggested that other chiefs could emulate the Otumfuo and undertake similar projects in their areas, such as the Yagbonwura for the Damongo Hospital, the Nayiri for the Nalerigu Hospital, the Ya Naa for the Tamale Hospital and the Anlo King for the Ho Hospital. He said that the Anlo King was a king from the history that he knew and that Ghanaians were tired of politicians who use projects and issues for their own interests.
Obiri Boahen’s comments come amid a controversy sparked by a historian who argued that the Asantehene was not a king in the strict sense of the word. Anokye Yaw Anokye Frimpong, a lawyer and a historian, told GhanaWeb that the Asantehene was not a king because the Ashanti Kingdom no longer existed and the laws of the country did not support the establishment of kings. He said that to be a king meant to have a kingdom with its own parliament, judiciary and executive, and that the people were subject to him without question.
He added that the Asantehene was subject to the parliament, courts and laws of Ghana, unlike the King of England who was the head of state of the United Kingdom and had the power to sign bills into law. He said that the Asantehene was a “super paramount chief” who had the authority to enstool or destool any chief under him, but not a king.
The historian’s views have been met with mixed reactions from the public, some of whom have agreed with him while others have challenged his interpretation of history and law. Some have also questioned the relevance of the debate and the motive behind it.
The issue of kingship in Ghana is a sensitive one that touches on the identity, culture and history of the various ethnic groups in the country. It also has implications for the role and influence of traditional authorities in the modern state. While the debate may not be resolved anytime soon, it offers an opportunity for Ghanaians to learn more about their heritage and appreciate the diversity of their nation.
Source: [GhanaWeb]
