History does not remember leaders for how many votes they secured, but for the values they defended when those values were at risk.
Other publicly known cases and the Case of Ghana Communications Technology University under the investigations of EOCO and co. will be a litmus test for the Current Government. As key individuals try to lobby allies to avoid accountability.
A Warning Against Failing Local Diplomacy and Its Threat to Generational Demands for Accountability and a Corruption-Free Society
As the tide rises and falls, so too do our downfalls rise alongside our moments of glory. A rising chief must learn the art of timing and restraint, lest he fall into the hands of a destined-born warrior, one marked by the gods to overthrow corrupt and unworthy leaders. A rising chief who toys with power and feeds his ego without moral or societal principles becomes a forsaken soul, abandoned by the gods, left to fight his own battles until his inevitable fall.
As the tide of time fades and flows, so too do the fortunes of kingdoms, rulers, and nations. Ghana, once hailed as a beacon of post-colonial stability and democratic resilience in Africa, now finds itself at a critical juncture where traditional authority, public trust, and national accountability are entangled in a growing crisis of confidence. The resurgence of chieftaincy in national affairs, once seen as a cultural anchor and moral compass, now risks becoming a vessel for impunity and elite protectionism.
In a democracy, political leaders are meant to uphold the rule of law, protect citizens, and ensure justice is served without fear or favor. However, in Ghana’s evolving political landscape, an alarming pattern is taking root, politicians increasingly fear the influence of chiefs during election seasons, and as a result, they compromise the very principles of accountability and justice they are sworn to uphold.
This fear is not rooted in respect for tradition, but in the pursuit of votes and political survival. Rather than engaging them within the boundaries of constitutional ethics, some politicians now bypass legality and appease chiefs, even when such figures are implicated in questionable acts, be it shielding suspected criminals, facilitating illicit land sales, or harboring corrupt allies. Politicians who fear enforcing accountability because of electoral consequences are unfit for leadership in a democratic state. Ghana must rise above the politics of fear, and reaffirm its commitment to justice, not just for the powerful, but for all.
While chiefs have historically served as custodians of the land, tradition, and communal peace, some now appear more invested in power accumulation and political patronage than in moral leadership.
This shift has been marked by instances where traditional leaders, so-called “begging Henes” (chiefs seeking favor or defending the indefensible), have intervened to free individuals suspected of serious wrongdoing, often without due regard for legal or ethical processes.
This phenomenon signals more than just a lapse in judgment. It reflects a systemic erosion of the moral foundations upon which the chieftaincy was built. The image of a chief shielding suspected criminals from legal scrutiny, sometimes in exchange for loyalty, votes, or financial support, is not merely treacherous; it speaks to a deeper cultural and institutional failure. This undermines the rule of law and feeds a growing public perception that chieftaincy is now a sanctuary for the corrupt and unaccountable activities.
Indeed, this “local diplomacy “where chiefs negotiate behind the scenes to release or protect persons of questionable conduct, has begun to fracture the social contract between the people and their traditional rulers. Such actions, often cloaked in the name of peace or reconciliation, come at the cost of justice and accountability. They threaten to create a two-tier society: one where the well-connected are exempt from consequence, and another where the average citizen remains subject to the full weight of the law.
This emerging impunity within the chieftaincy structure has created fertile ground for opportunistic individuals, some of whom have been implicated in financial crimes, land grabbing, and public fraud, to infiltrate and even ascend to traditional leadership roles. In some regions, there are situations where individuals or those under investigation have either sponsored or influenced local activities to gain immunity under the guise of cultural authority. In return, these individuals offer patronage, protection, and political muscle, transforming sacred stools into tools of political negotiation and personal survival.
The moral consequence of this trend cannot be overstated. Future generations, those who dream of a Ghana that is just, transparent, and grounded in equity, are being failed. The socialization of our youth is being shaped by a dangerous precedent: that power, not principle, determines accountability. That tradition, not truth, dictates justice.
Yet, in Ghana’s history and spiritual belief systems, there is a recurring narrative: that no ruler, however powerful, is immune from divine justice. As proverbial wisdom teaches us, “The gods may be patient, but they are never blind.” Chiefs and traditional leaders must therefore be reminded that the stools they occupy are not thrones of privilege but altars of responsibility, entrusted to them not by man alone, but by ancestral authority to serve, protect, and uplift their people.
As new warriors rise, not with spears, but with education, data, and the spirit of reform, they will challenge the decay. These are not rebels without cause, but reformers born of destiny, emboldened by the collective will to see a Ghana where traditional authority complements democratic values rather than corrupts them.
Ghana must confront this growing tension between culture and accountability. If traditional rulers are to remain relevant in a modern constitutional democracy, their actions must align with national values of justice, transparency, and service. Any attempt to turn the chieftaincy into a haven for lawbreakers risks discrediting not only the individual stool but the very soul of Ghana’s moral architecture.
If the current government is to overcome the tide of traditional appeasement and institutional compromise, and instead etch its name in the annals of Ghanaian history as a reformist force, it must take bold, strategic, and morally grounded steps:
- Affirm Constitutional Supremacy Over Customary Compromise
The government must publicly reaffirm the supremacy of the 1992 Constitution over all other forms of authority—including traditional rule. Chiefs are respected custodians of culture, but they are not above the law. A formal policy declaration from the Presidency and Parliament should make it clear: no individual or institution is immune to the rule of law, regardless of status, stool, or symbolic power.
2. Strengthen Independent Institutions to Act Without Fear or Interference
Government must empower the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), CHRAJ, EOCO, the Judicial Service etc. to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing, including cases involving traditional figures and their collaborators. This includes:
• Adequate and ring-fenced funding for independent bodies.
• Public protection and legal immunity for whistleblowers exposing wrongdoing within chieftaincy and political alliances.
• A public reporting dashboard to show progress on high-level cases involving both politicians and traditional elites.
3. Lead a National Civic Campaign for Rule of Law and Social Justice
The government can shape public consciousness by launching a nationwide civic education initiative under the theme:
“Justice for All, Not Just the Powerful.”
This campaign, supported by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), faith-based groups, youth activists, and the media, should aim to:
• Educate citizens about their legal rights and how to report injustice.
• Spotlight cases where the rule of law prevailed despite social status.
• Debunk the myth that chieftaincy is synonymous with legal immunity.
4. Set a Personal Example from the Presidency
The President must use his public office as a moral pulpit, demonstrating the courage to reject endorsements or political support from questionable chiefs or individuals under investigation. By refusing to associate with traditional figures implicated in impunity, the President will:
• Signal a shift from transactional politics to transformational leadership.
• Inspire public trust in his integrity and governance model.
• Challenge future administrations to maintain higher ethical standards.
5. Institutionalize a “Legacy Project” for Accountable Governance
To cement its place in history, the government can establish a National Legacy Project on Accountability and Ethical Governance, a multi-stakeholder initiative that works with traditional authorities, civil society, academia, and the judiciary to:
• Modernize governance systems within chieftaincy institutions.
• Build digital transparency tools to track land and public resource allocations.
• Produce an annual “State of Traditional Governance and Justice” report tabled before Parliament.
A Legacy Worth Leaving
History does not remember leaders for how many votes they secured, but for the values they defended when those values were at risk. The current government of Ghana has a rare opportunity, not just to govern, but to transform.
By confronting the culture of fear-driven appeasement of chiefs and choosing justice over favoritism, the government can stand boldly on the right side of history. It can usher in a new Ghana, where tradition respects the law, and leadership serves the people, not the powerful.
This is the legacy that generations will remember. It is time to call out and correct these failings, not in anger, but in resolve. The fall of a rising kingdom may not be immediate, but if left unchecked, it will be inevitable.
Other publicly known cases and the Case of Ghana Communications Technology University under the investigations of EOCO and co. will be a litmus test for the Current Government. As key individuals try to lobby allies to avoid accountability.
Source: James Acquah
