Programme to strengthen chiefs role in justice system underway

A programme to better harness and integrate the adjudicatory functions of chiefs into the larger orthodox justice delivery system is underway.

Under the programme, starting on pilot basis in the selected traditional areas in Volta, Eastern and Northern regions, chiefs' adjudicating capacities would be strengthened to make their decisions hold on appeal at the traditional courts.

Nene Ofoe-Amegatcher, a lawyer and consultant to the project, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a three-day training workshop in Ho for chiefs from the Gbi and Asogli Traditional areas.

The programme is under the aegis of the Judicial Service of Ghana and sponsored by the World Bank.

He said the two-part project would sharpen the capacities of the judicial committees of the traditional councils and the houses of chiefs to perform the adjudicatory functions on chieftaincy issues as given to them under the constitution.

Nene Ofoe-Amegatcher said the project also sought to strengthen the customary arbitration functions of chiefs on issues that come before them, which include land, inheritance and marital disagreements.

He said when the chiefs' courts gain further credibility the traditional courts would then be relieved of the current heaps of cases coming before them.

Nene Ofoe-Amegatcher said it would also make the process of litigation fluid and less costly.

Togbe Ayim IV, Chief of Gbi-Bla, said some chiefs sitting at their courts exhibited dictatorial tendencies, were unable to determine situations of conflict of interest and were bias.

He said the project would increase access to the justice system.

Professor Irene Odotei, Lead Consultant, said the project was formulated based on research on the traditional governing system over the years.

She said chiefs' adjudicatory roles had been weakened by western institutions and needed to be strengthened and brought back into the justice delivery system in Ghana.