Sun, 25 Jul 2021 Feature Article

Adding an Academic Title to a Chieftaincy Title in Ghana is Inappropriate: Episode-1

By and large, Ghana has become a title-loving society. Ghanaians boast of numerous titles and most of these titles hardly make any meaningful impact on societal development. It is to the extent that some persons take offence whenever they are inappropriately addressed with a given title at a public function. For example, it is trite knowledge that the title “Honourable” has become a cherished designation for the political class in the Ghanaian society. Most of those who use this title would not want to trade it off.

In Ghana, the Chieftaincy Institution has its cherished and time-tested values, titles, customs and traditions. Chieftaincy titles in the Ghanaian society carry weight, honour, dignity and they command certain authority. The titles vary from tribe to tribe or from community to community. Among the Eʋes, a chief is referred to as Tɔgbe (male) and Mama (Female). Akans use Nana, Hene, Ɔhemaa etc. The Ga-Dagmes use Nii, Nene and Naana as chieftaincy titles. In certain parts of northern Ghana, chieftaincy titles such as Naaba, Wura etc are used.

To my mind, every chieftaincy title in Ghana does not only depict royalty and a respectable traditional office but also a title that is not and should not be deemed to be inferior to academic titles such as Doctor, Professor etc. Respectfully, a chief may not have formal education nor have a terminal degree yet he commands respect in society.

Sadly, some chiefs in Ghana apparently do not see the value and the sacredness of their Chieftaincy titles hence they prefer to use academic and chieftaincy titles jointly. It is as though the academic titles are used to augment the chieftaincy titles. For example, if Philip Afeti Korto holds a Ph.D and he is a chief in an Akan community with Nana Bobo II as his chieftaincy title, he may want to be addressed as either Dr. Nana Bobo II or Nana Dr. Bobo II. In my view, adding academic titles to one's chieftaincy title is inappropriate so the practice should be eschewed. This is because doing so seeks to inculturate the chieftaincy institution. It also renders the sacred chieftaincy titles inferior to academic and other titles. This is my concern and the impetus for this piece.

Legal Foundations of the Chieftaincy Institution in Ghana

It is not disputatious that Ghana's sacred Chieftaincy Institution has been in existence before colonisation and before the introduction of partisan politics in Ghana, (the Gold Coast as it then was). Suffice to say that our chieftaincy titles are pre-existent to academic and other titles.

As such, the Chieftaincy Institution in Ghana has been given legal foundations over the years and Ghana's jurisprudence evolved over time, taking cognisance of the sanctity of the Chieftaincy Institution.

Accordingly, Ghana's four Republican Constitutions of 1960 (Article 49), 1969 (Article 153), 1979 (Article 177) and currently 1992 (Article 270) have guaranteed the Chieftaincy Institution together with its traditional councils as established by customary law and usage. It is in this same regard that Article 11 (2) and 11 (3) of the 1992 Constitution identifies customary law as one of the sources of law in Ghana. Apart from this, Ghana has had Chieftaincy Acts over the years and various Houses of Chiefs. The current Chieftaincy Act of Ghana (Act 759) was enacted in 2008. Therefore, a chieftaincy title must not be toyed with let alone enhancing it with academic titles.

I dare say that a chief who prefers to be addressed with academic titles in addition to his chieftaincy title does not seem to know and cherish the true value of a chieftaincy title such as Nana, Hene, Tɔgbe, Nene, Nii, Naaba etc. The chieftaincy title is not an academic title. It is a royal, traditional and sacred title recognised by the customary and other laws of Ghana.

The second episode of this piece cites some useful lessons academic title-loving chiefs can learn from the Asantehene, the Catholic Church, the British Monarchy and the Eʋe Chieftaincy Institution in Ghana. The conclusion of the piece in Episode-2 will emphasize the sanctity of the chieftaincy titles and why its potency should not be adulterated with academic titles.

~Asante Sana ~
Author: Philip Afeti Korto
Email: [email protected]

Philip Afeti Korto is a seasoned Public Administrator and a prolific writer. He is a professional and astute Health Service Administrator who has been practising for over a decade. He has worked as a Health Service Administrator in the Ghana Health Service for 15 years, where he managed Administrati. More Philip Afeti Korto is a seasoned Public Administrator. He is a professional and astute Hospital Administrator who has been practicing for over a decade. He has worked as a Hospital Administrator in the Ghana Health Service for 17years, where he managed Administration and Support Services at five different hospitals such as Ridge Hospital, Dangme East District, La General, Achimota Hospitals and Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital. His strengths are in management, public policy implementation and writing media articles. He has about 400 media publications and few academic publications to his credit with two of his book chapters listed on Amazon Books.
In 2020, he published a chapter entitled, “Managing Policies and Procedures in Healthcare Management” in book, “Health Service Marketing Management in Africa”. The book is listed on Amazon Books. Mr. Korto’s chapter is cited as “Korto, P.A. (2020). Managing Policies and Procedures in Healthcare Management. In Hinson, E.R., Osei-Frimpong, K., Adeola, O. & Aziato, L. Health Service Marketing Management in Africa (1 ed., pp. 225-242). New York: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC".

He is a prolific writer and a Columnist at www.modernghana.com, myjoyonline.com and www.ghanaweb.com as well as a regular publisher on healthcare matters in the Daily Graphic. He is not only a prolific writer but also an all-round writer who writes on different areas especially happenings in society and applying Biblical stories to real life situations. A significant number of his articles have led to solutions for some societal problems.

Philip Afeti Korto holds BSc. Administration (Health Service Administration option) from University of Ghana Business School (UGBS). He also holds a Master of Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He occasionally gives practical lectures at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) upon invitation.

He is an outstanding member of the Association of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG). He has published numerous practical articles in the Health Service Manager, the official journal of AHSAG. In November 2019, AHSAG awarded Mr. Korto in recognition of his incessant and significant contributions to the cause and course of the Association.

He takes delight in training up and coming Public Administrators especially trainee Health Service Administrators and students pursuing Health Service Administration. Mr. Korto has trained about 80 Houseman Health Service Administrators.

With the foregoing rich experience, he joined the Board of Directors of the Mepe Area Rural Bank PLC in January 2024 as a non-executive Director and he serves as a member of the Board’s operational committee responsible for Administration and Operations. On the Board, he has been very instrumental in decision-making and implementation.
Column: Philip Afeti Korto

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Comments

Kaba | 7/25/2021 3:08:45 PM

Excellent work! Indeed, you are a great weaver of words and ideas. I agree completely with you that the two titles should not go together or used simultaneously. Like u indicated, the dual usage tends to devalue the chieftaincy title which is sacred and must not be traded for anything else. I want to add that it takes creative minds to come up with interesting and uncommon topics like this for discussion. Kudos my brother.

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Adding an Academic Title to a Chieftaincy Title in Ghana is Inappropriate: Episode-1

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