Accra, Ghana – Renowned business executive and public intellectual Yaw Nsarkoh has issued a clarion call for national dialogue and constitutional reform to redefine the role of chieftaincy in Ghana’s democratic governance.
Delivering a lecture at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Occasional Lecture, 2025, on Thursday, 19 June, Mr Nsarkoh described the chieftaincy institution as both “vital and vulnerable,” warning that without meaningful reform, it risks degenerating into a source of confusion and obstruction in Ghana’s political framework.
Speaking on the theme “Iniquities of Iniquity in Our Santa Claus Democracy”, Mr Nsarkoh criticised entrenched cultural narratives that present chiefs as untouchable custodians of tradition.
“If even the gods can upgrade their preferences from akpeteshie to Blue Label, must we mortals remain stuck in ossified traditions?” he asked pointedly.
The Executive Vice President of Global Markets at Unilever argued that culture, like governance, must evolve through conscious choices rather than inherited inertia. While acknowledging the potential contributions of traditional authorities to national development, he insisted that their role must be realigned with Ghana’s constitutional aspirations.
Mr Nsarkoh cited troubling trends of traditional leaders overstepping their bounds, including replacing vehicle registration plates with royal insignia, interfering in land administration, and aiding illegal mining operations. He warned that such actions create ambiguity and undermine democratic accountability.
“The chieftaincy institution must not become a pseudo-state that fills the vacuum left by a failing government,” he said. “Some relish the prestige but resist the responsibility that comes with it.”
He criticised state officials for their reluctance to confront chiefs over misconduct due to political sensitivities, describing it as a dangerous precedent for a republic seeking institutional clarity.
“Even ministers dodge the tough questions. That’s how deep the fear runs,” he said.
Mr Nsarkoh highlighted a previous claim by a former Minister for Chieftaincy that 70% of Ghana’s national security budget is spent managing chieftaincy disputes—a revelation he branded “a sobering reflection of dysfunction.”
Calling for a comprehensive national reform process, he urged the President to lead a consultative and constitutionally grounded effort to modernise the institution, not abolish it.
“Only a serious, consultative, and constitutionally grounded process, possibly led by the President, can address the dysfunction in a manner that preserves the institution while advancing national development,” he said.
He warned that inaction could result in long-term instability and jeopardise Ghana’s democratic progress.
“A republic cannot flourish where traditional institutions operate in legal ambiguity and cultural excess,” he concluded.
“Let the President ring the bell for reform before all hell breaks loose in this Santa Claus Democracy.”
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