Chieftaincy is one of the most enduring traditional institutions in Ghana, which has displayed remarkable resilience from pre-colonial through colonial to postcolonial times.
In Ghana, chieftaincy is an extensive account of the many roles of chiefs in modern society.
In the past, the role of a chief was to lead his people in war to defend, protect and extend their territories. The modern role is to combat poverty and other social ills: illiteracy, ignorance, environmental degradation, and the depletion of resources. Nowadays, chiefs are under pressure to achieve good governance in their traditional areas. They are challenged to integrate tradition and modernity, a process about which there is considerable debate.
One year on after the demise of Alhaji Moro Alhassan, Chief of Koyi, the kingmakers are yet to enskine a new Chief as per the traditions of the area. Exactly, 2nd June, 2016 marked one year on, since the town of Koyi was painted black and red to signify the pain, sadness and sorrow that had engulfed the chiefs and people of the area, following the sudden demise of the late Alhaji Moro, a chief that has brought peaceful co existence and development to the town of Koyi in the Volta region of Ghana. .
As part of cultural and Islamic practices, a week-long final funeral rites and prayers were observed amidst various activities, with the newly installed chief leading the charges.
However, dark clouds looms over Koyi since the heir apparent Prince Anas Moro was nowhere to be found. This situation has created room for rumours to be peddled on why Koyi does not have a Chief. This article is not meant to dwell on the rumours but to avoid the looming chieftaincy dispute if the void is not filled.
Prince Anas Moro went through hard times even he was accused by his uncle of been a gay which raised mix feelings among some members of the family and the community but he had all evidence to prove his stand.
HRM Alhaji Moro, was the first and pioneer Chairman of the District Council of Traditional Rulers when it was created in 1993. He was host to many important state functionaries and other traditional rulers in Ghana and neighboring Togo. But alas, in our socio-political environment, a man who carries himself quietly and in dignity hardly ever gets into headline news.
He served his term as Chairman of District Security Council peacefully until it was the turn of his successor with whom he co-operated in a most charitable and royal manner. Some have described the late chief as ‘being peace-loving even to a fault’. In my view, this is an eloquent testimony to the grand, simple and peaceful personality that was His Royal Majesty.
Throughout his reign Koyi witnessed massive growth, particularly in terms of social amenities, road construction, and unity of purpose. He was a man who made no enemies, but who at the same time stood for the truth. But alas, that which is good but mortal must come to an end. Thus came an end to the thirty-two year glorious, peaceful and eventful reign of one of the most respected traditional rulers in the Kotokoli sub-ethnic group in Volta Region.
For most people familiar with his long reign, the word that summarizes his era is ‘peace’. It’s not all leaders who manage to ensure peace. For as Thomas Kempis has observed: “All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.” Under the reign of Alhaji Moro, the town of Koyi was spared the ethnic clashes that have rocked parts of the region in the last 10 odd years. The Bible says, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”
It is true that minor skirmishes were reported in Siati between the Minso and Tidai. But the firm and gentle hands of the great man of peace helped to douse the tension. He was genial, kind and patient. He also had an immense capacity to listen to all parties that presented matters to him.
Already, grand plans are under way to give the grand old chief befitting rites of passage for a man of his stature. His challenge to the people of Koyi in general would be to produce a worthy successor as soon as practicable and ensure peace and stability in their homeland.
It is against this background that I am of the opinion that Koyi is at a crossroad that needs to quickly usher in a new dawn with a new chief to lead the development process and to continue the peace that HRM Alhaji Moro stood for. There is no need to shed a single blood as the successor is not in dispute. What ought to be done is to see to it that traditions conform with our modern state legal requirements. Anything short of that will be recipe for chaos and disaster.
Sheriff Abdulai
