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21.03.2013 Feature Article

Traditional Leadership And Development In Contemporary Ghana

Osahene Katekyi Busumakura IIIOsahene Katekyi Busumakura III
21.03.2013 LISTEN

Traditional leaders have always played a critical role in the development of society. Throughout the ages, they have served as a steady, guiding force for societal progress.

Decisions in communities regarding peace keeping, conflict resolution and matters that relate to social issues such as health, community welfare and many others are often placed under the guidance of traditional authorities at the local level.

In spite of all this, however, modern societies tend to overlook the critical role that traditional leaders continue to play in national development today.

In Ghana, the chieftaincy institution has preserved the rich cultural values of communality, respect for the elderly, and the principles of reciprocity and hospitality among the citizenry. Indeed, it is through the leadership of traditional authorities that unity and the country's cultural values are sustained.

Aside the role they play in fostering unity in our communities, traditional leaders also help to maintain law and order and are essential in the settlement of non-criminal civil disputes. Their greatest desire is to see their communities develop.

Traditional leaders work to ensure this by contributing in diverse ways and by welcoming investment opportunities into their communities. Communal spirit has always been a major characteristic of communities that are under the rulership of visionary leaders and one case that epitomizes this is the leadership of Osahene Katekyi Busumakura III, the Takoradiman-Hene.

Osahene Katekyi Busumakura III, the paramount chief of Takoradi, has introduced tremendous development to Takoradi, the entire Western Region and the country as a whole since his enstoolment as the Takoradiman-Hene.

These development projects include a plan that is currently far advanced for the establishment of a university, the Takoradi Institute of Science and Technology (TIST) in the Western Region. This university aims at offering flagship courses including Oil and Gas Engineering, Petro-Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences to meet the demands of the region and the country as a whole.

As a visionary leader, the Takoradiman-Hene aspires to make Takoradi an attractive port city and an enviable investment centre by 2025 through the effective marketing of the city.

His goal has been to achieve this through focusing on human capital development, alternative livelihood projects and improved land management. It is in this direction that the Osahene III Sustainable Development Project was launched about five years ago to drive this developmental agenda for the city and the nation.

The traditional leader Osahene has also contributed to the development of his communities and of the country through the various benevolent works he has spearheaded. These include the renovation of key institutions such as the Western Regional House of Chiefs and the Kwesimintsim Police Station, which is also in the Western Region.

He is also helping to build a new women's cell for the Kwesimintsim Police Station. In addition to these, the traditional leader has also made various donations to institutions across the country to help improve their lives.

As a minister of God in his professional life, Osahene Busumakura III is described by many as a praying king. He relies on God Almighty who he recognizes as the 'King of kings' for guidance in the course of his quest to further Takoradi's development.

Osahene has undoubtedly restored unity to the Takoradi township and has also established and entrenched the legitimacy of the Takoradiman stool.

Indeed, the Western Region of Ghana has become the hub of investment in recent times due to the country's oil and gas discovery in commercial quantity. A region of such promise requires a visionary leadership to steer its development for the benefit of all its citizenry.

The contributions of Osahene Katekyi Busumakura III in addition to those of other visionary leaders across the country are making a long-lasting, discernible difference in Ghana's development. They are proof and testament of the enduring impact and relevance of traditional leaders in our society today.

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