CHIEFS NEED MORE POWER TO SETTLE CONFLICTS

By Ryan Millward

A professor at the University of Cape Coast has stated that governments and chiefs need equal power in their roles to help prevent conflicts.

The statement came from Alhaji M.N.D Jawula at a conference on social behaviour and conflict management. The professor pointed out the pivotal roles chiefs play in helping to settle disputes; he stated "Conflict exists - some are negative issues, some are positive. It keeps us aware and thinking but causes tremendous loss. People and conflict must learn to live together and chiefs are vital in helping settle local disputes between communities."

However, while chiefs are useful for being figureheads in local communities, their powers - and their scope in which they wield them - are limited. The University of Cape Coast professor compared and contrasted the extent to which the government and the extent to which chiefs can resolve and manage conflict. Alhaji M.N.D Jawula started by saying: "During times of conflict and change, chiefs and government worked together to prevent conflict to a minimum." However, he continued to express his concern that conflict would be more efficiently managed if chiefs had more 'official' power.

The obvious differences are there already; chiefs are often poor normal people who live in very small communities whereas big western style governments are anything but. Evidently it's the lack of authority chiefs have that lessens their functions of conflict management. The professor told: "Power that chiefs have could be taken away by higher authorities thus making conflict less sustainable." He added: "Conflict exists between chiefs and governments because governments don't understand small conflicts like chiefs do. Chiefs know what is best but the government has more power." You can't help but agree; the thought of comparing a police uniform to a chief uniform illustrates it quite well - I know which one strikes authority into most people.

Evidently the problem is power, or there in lack of; if a chief wants to arrest or prosecute someone, it's just not possible whereas the government authorities can do what they desire. As pointed out before, governments may not be as well positioned to settle disputes in small local communities than chiefs. This is where the professor pointed to small groups of people who feel marginalised due to government authority not settling disputes. This is why chiefs need more authority as to better manage conflict. Professor Alhaji M.N.D Jawula said: "Chiefs should be brought into courts and government so conflict can be better managed." He continued: "It takes longer for chiefs to prevent conflict - people have to listen and come for advice. It's old fashioned and there is also transport problems for chiefs." The study found that the key to managing conflicts was the following four processes - Antaginism, Regulance, Intervention, Action and chiefs and governments must have equal power and work together as to prevent conflict.

The study was part of the University's Department of Sociology which remains at the forefront for combating conflict. The course is obviously very helpful and resourceful in helping Ghana manage conflict and all the effects that come with it such as death, injuries, loss of land, marginalisation and so on. Clearly the study shown a huge eye opener that chiefs are more vital than people think in helping settle disputes.

With the amount of officials and guests on show for the conference, as well as the Department's credibility in their research, it may come to pass that the work and study put forward by Professor Alhaji M.N.D Jawula will become influential in Ghana's management of conflict and all the trouble and loss it brings.