COURTS ALONE CANNOT RESOLVE CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTES (PAGE 20)

Story: Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Wenchi

THE Bishop of the Wenchi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Right Reverend Kwasi Konadu, has stated that the law courts alone cannot resolve the myriad of chieftaincy disputes and litigations across the country.
“I am absolutely convinced that the courts can’t solve chieftaincy disputes for a lasting peace to prevail One faction wins and the other loses, hence there is always an aggrieved party and that brings divisions in a community,” he observed.
The bishop, therefore, suggested that it was only through proper record keeping and documentation that we would ensure that the right successors to vacant stools and skins had taken their rightful places, which had normally been the bane of chieftaincy litigation in the country.
He said this when he addressed the fifth annual synod of the diocese at Wenchi.
The theme for the synod was: “The Role of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in Mission.”
Bishop Konadu said many individuals, including royals to stools and skins could not trace their ancestral lineages or genealogies when they were called upon to do that when the need arose, especially when it came to chieftaincy issues, which he described as “thorny” throughout the country.
He, however, noted with satisfaction that “the Hebrews and other nations, were able to keep records for about 4000 years”.
The Bible, Bishop Konadu said, was full of records of genealogies of families and if those people, limited by writing, could do this 4000 years ago, then we in the 21st century did not have any excuse, adding, “How many of us here can go over five generations of our families?”
According to the bishop, it was possible to have what he termed a “win-win” solution to the many chieftaincy disputes, and that it was for the parties involved in the disputes to come together to sort out their differences, “battle” them out, reach a compromise and begin to live together.
Bishop Konadu stressed the need for Ghanaians to thank God for the prevailing democracy and the peace the country was enjoying so far.
He, however, said, “We need to continue to pray so that what happened in Kenya and the current development in Zimbabwe would not be seen in Ghana.
“We need to go in for people who are capable God-fearing, honest and are not covetous and selfish to lead the nation during the forthcoming general election,” the bishop stressed.
Bishop Konadu advised the congregation that even though they belonged to different political persuasions, they should respect the positions of others.
“Let love prevail during this preparation process to the December elections, and politicians should not promise heaven for us on earth. They need to be sincere when they desire to come to power to serve Ghana not to “Milk” Ghana,” he stated.
Bishop Konadu said with the assistance of the whole Methodist Connexion, including the dioceses, circuits and societies, the Bishop’s Manse, which was burnt down last year, had been rehabilitated.
In his welcoming address, the Circuit Steward, Brother Adu Baffo Twum, said as the country was about to go to the polls in December, this year, to elect Members of Parliament and a President, it was their duty as a church to educate its members, families and friends on the need to choose good leaders.
Mr Twum admitted that the Methodist Church was old enough to set up business enterprises to generate funds to assist needy members of the church and also create jobs for the youth as well as cater for the elderly.