We welcome you to the official portal for Chieftaincy, Traditional Governance and Leadership Project, which is aimed at advancing and promoting research and scholarship in this specific area. This portal is premised on the fact that Chieftaincy is one of Ghana and Africa's enduring cultural heritage and institution, which is deeply rooted in the ethnic consciousness of communities, providing the scope for leadership and exercise of authority. Consequently, Chieftaincy is one of the major, important traditional institutions in contemporary Ghana, symbolizing socio-political and sacred power vested in Chiefs, Queen-mothers and Priests in many parts of Ghana. The impetus for Chieftaincy studies is given a further boost with respect to its legal and constitutional status in Ghana. The Chieftaincy Act of 1971, for instance provides guidelines for the functioning of the various Chieftaincy institutions, and authorises the National House of Chiefs to 'undertake the progressive study, interpretation and codification of customary law, with a view to evolving, in appropriate cases a unified system of rules of customary law'.
According to the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, "The institution of chieftaincy, together with it's traditional councils as established by customary law and usage, is...guaranteed". The constitution also recognizes the establishment of a National House of Chiefs made up of elected representatives of Regional Houses of Chiefs (which are also recognised), and specific terms of reference, which emphasize the advisory nature of their roles. The constitution insulates chiefs from partisan politics, though not from appointment to public office. It defines a chiefs as "a person, who, hailing from appropriate family and lineage, has been validly nominated, elected or selected and en-stooled, en-skinned or installed as a chief or queenmother in accordance with the relevant customary law and usage". Studies in Traditional Governance and Leadership focuses attention on developing excellence in documentation and analysis, and helping create deeper understanding of the various traditional systems and institutions of authority and leadership. The purpose of the Programme is to strengthen and expand systematic academic study and research into traditional leadership and Chieftaincy issues. It is dedicated to the study of the institution of Chieftaincy in all its aspects - namely, religion, social, political and cultural, within a development framework.
The Chieftaincy Project is a not-for-profit organisation that operates with support from individuals, corporations and organisations around the world - and is coordinated by the Irene K. Odotei Foundation.