When chiefs endorse presidential candidates

One of the very revered institutions in the country is chieftaincy – which form of governance has existed for centuries even before the advent of the colonialists.

Although the chieftaincy institution remains a very relevant system of governance, especially in rural Ghana, many believe that the power of chiefs has been weakened because they have been subsumed under the current system of governance, which involves the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.

Some are also of the view that the power of chiefs has been corrupted because they have ‘sold’ themselves to politicians in several ways, instead of making the politicians or the government defer to them on issues of governance.

 Endorsement galore
The current practice of the endorsement by chiefs of aspiring members of Parliament and flag bearers seeking the high office of President has been flagged as one of the exercises that is inimical to the chieftaincy institution.

Yet in the run-up to the just-ended election, Ghana experienced perhaps the highest number ever of endorsements from chiefs across the country, of the two main contenders in the presidential election – President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Region by region

From the Upper East Region, the Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigiri Azoka Abugrago II, told Nana Akufo-Addo when he visited as part of his campaign tour; “This is the proper endorsement I want to make. God willing this year, you will get what you want and become the President of Ghana.”

Upper West

When Nana Akufo-Addo visited the Upper West Region, he was again recommended for the high office of the land by the Chief of Garu, Naba Asuguru Akuntam Wini.

Northern

It was the turn of the incumbent, President Mahama, to be highly recommended for a second term by the President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, Nayire Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai, when he toured the region on his campaign tour.

“We passionately pray that the almighty God and our ancestral skins will support and back you to achieve your desired aim of continuing to be the President of the Republic of Ghana come December 7, 2016,” Nayire Abdulai said.

Brong Ahafo

In the Brong Ahafo Region, the endorsement of the President was even more massive. As far back in October 2015, the Chief of Sunyani, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, told President Mahama to expect to secure at least 80 per cent of the total votes in the Brong Ahafo Region in the December 7, 2016 election.

The Omanhene of Yeji and President of the Brong Ahafo House of Chiefs, Nana Pemapin Yaw Kagbrese, called on Ghanaians to vote massively for President Mahama in the December polls when he addressed a gathering of elders as part of his campaign tour.

Also, the Chief of Bassa, Nana Owusu Sekyi III, endorsed the candidature of President Mahama ahead of the 2016 election.

In July this year, the Chief of Tuobodom and the Akyempemhene of the Techiman Traditional Council, Nana Obeng Ameyaw Barimah II, declared his support for Nana Akufo-Addo when the latter visited the Brong Ahafo region on his campaign tour.

Ashanti

It was a total endorsement for the NPP presidential candidate ahead of the December 7 polls when the Mpaboahene (Sandals chief) of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Nana Yaw Owusu, led over 50 chiefs in Atwima Kwanwoma in the Ashanti Region to declare their support for him on the first day of his four-day campaign tour of the region.

Western

During Nana Akufo-Addo’s five-day campaign tour of the Western Region, some chiefs also took turns to give him their endorsement for the election. They included the Krontihene of the Suaman Traditional Council, Nana Armah Kofi III, when the NPP flag bearer called on him at Dadieso in the Suaman Constituency.

The chief said he was confident that Nana Akufo-Addo would deliver on his promise when elected President in the December 7 election.

He was also joined by the Chief of Prestea Himan in the Prestea-Huni-Valley Constituency, Nana Nteboa Pra IV. “I agree that the battle is the Lord’s and God has already spoken and he will grant your heart desires,” the chief stated.

Eastern

Although it is believed that the Eastern Region is the stronghold of the now President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, it was the incumbent President Mahama who had the largest endorsement before the 2016 election.

While it was reported that the Chief of Kukurantumi assured President Mahama of 50 per cent of the total votes in the region, the Chief of Odumase No. 1, Nana Kwasi Yeboah, also declared his support for the President during his campaign visit to the region saying; “We are solidly behind you Mr President.”

Also affirming their resolve to vote massively and endorse the re-election of President Mahama in the election were Zongo chiefs in the Eastern Region when a delegation of the Council of Elders of the NDC Zongo Caucus called on them.

Volta

The story in the Volta Region was no different and the Adontenhene of the Dodo Traditional area, Nana Saafo Attara II, rooted for President Mahama during his ‘Accounting to the People’ tour of the region.

The Paramount Chief of Kadjebi, Nana Ogyeabour Akompi Finam II, and the Chief of Okajakrom, Nana Osabarima Antwi Adjei, gave their full endorsement of the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo during his tour of the region.

There were also commendations of the two candidates when they called on chiefs in the Central and Greater Accra regions, thus completing a national endorsement spree.

The catch

The major reason assigned by almost all the chiefs for the endorsement of their preferred candidates was the expectation of development projects, their approval of policies championed on the campaign trail or their way of rewarding them for bringing development to their traditional areas during the tenure of their parties.

A chieftaincy analyst, Dr Obiri Yeboah, put it succinctly when he said that traditional leaders who were endorsing presidential candidates were doing that because they wanted development projects for their communities.

“It is very difficult to decide not to be partisan because the people are all looking up to the chiefs to solicit social amenities from those who hold the purse and it is the presidential aspirants who hold the purse,” he told Accra-based radio station Joy FM.

Breach of Constitution?

Nonetheless, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa, urged persons concerned about chiefs endorsing presidential aspirants to report them to their respective Regional House of Chiefs to have the issues addressed, describing the act as unlawful because the Constitution frowned upon it.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the immediate past President of the National House of Chiefs, Prof. Naa Pangasoa John Nabila, also criticised traditional leaders who endorsed presidential candidates.

However, a sociologist at the University of Ghana, Dr Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya, said the practice of chiefs endorsing presidential candidates was not a breach of the Constitution.

Quoting Article 276 of Ghana’s Constitution to buttress his view, he said; “A chief shall not take part in active party politics; and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin.”

According to Dr Anamzoya who spoke to TV3, because those chiefs were not putting themselves up for election into political office, their action couldn’t constitute “active politics”.

He rather faulted the wording of that provision in the Constitution, saying it gave a “lot of leverage to chiefs to play politics without us being able to label that one as active politics.”

What if… (How it panned out in the election)

Dr Anamzoya’s worry, however, was the danger inherent in openly declaring support for a party which could lose in an election, as has happened.

“If a chief declares support for a party and the party comes to power, you can be sure that you are going to be seen in the good books of that party. The danger, however, is that when you support party ‘A’ openly, and a new party comes to your palace, what do you tell the person?” he asked.

A careful prognosis of the just-ended election shows that the support of the two major presidential candidates by various chiefs did not necessarily translate into massive votes in those regions. In fact in some cases, the results were the complete opposite of what the chiefs promised, showing that indeed the casting of ballots is an individual affair.

The final results of the polls showed President Mahama winning in four regions (Volta, Upper East, Upper West and Northern), while the President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo won in the remaining six made up of the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Western, Eastern, Central and Greater Accra regions.