_  78  -

KWABU IRHIHs 

jaiDTIIOHAL  HIILS  IK.  GHAKAS

PP.'  163 WJlDH'ItUJSTEiiriOHS

AOCRA,. sjaDqo._pp3i_3S3ns>,_GQ..jMi).  1985

Price;  0140

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Kwame Arhin's  book,  'Traditional  Bule  in Ghana;  Past and
Present1-ris .an importgnt • contribution  to the understanding  of 

:

contemporary  Ghanaian  social  structure,  and has  far-reaching

implications  for policy  makers  in. the areas  of  decentralisation,

local .government ^adminisTEratiop, and. chieftaincy  institut-ionail

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, V"1!he .author  dlsouss-es•.Js^itional  j^tile^in  Ghana  with  speoific

examples  from  Tallensi,  Ba>jomba  and Ashanti,  and makes  reference  to

other  t r a d i t i o n al  social  systems.  His  central  theme  is  that  though

t r a d i t i o n al  rule  in  Ghana  has  been  affected  by  the  forces  of  social

change,  the  i n s t i t u t i on  has  stood  the  t e st  of  time.  These  forces

of  change  axe  Christian  b e l i e f s,  formal  education,  the  gxo?fth  of

trade  and  commerce,  and the  demonstration  effects  of  factors  in  the

colonial  and post-colonial  situations.

The  book  is  organised  into  seven  chapters. 

In  the  f i r st

chapter,  three  conceptual  models  are  posited  for  understanding

t r a d i t i o n al  rule  in  Ghana, 

fhese  are  ( i)  societies  without  obvious

power-holders  beyond  the  level  of  family  groupings  ( i i)  s o c i e t i es

-  79  -

with  power-holders  operating  at  rising  levels  so  that  they  are  said

to  have  centralised  political  authority  systems  and  ( i i i)  societies  .

that  have  the  charactaristics  of  both  (;l)  and  ( l i ).

Chapter  2 deals  with  succession  to  political  office  and  Ohap-

ter'3-'A7ith  t he  financing  of  traditional  rule. 

In  Chapter  4,  there

is  a  discussion  of  sanctions  against  abuse  of  power,  which, are  the

safe-guards -and. mechanisms  developed  by  traditional  societies  to

institutionalizes  maintain  and support  traditional  rule.

Chapters  5  and  6 discuss  traditional  rule  under  colonialism

and  after  independence  respectively.  Under  colonialism,  a new

social  order  emerged  in  which there  was  an  attempt  to  define  a new

position  for  the  chief  as  a  result  of  the  forces  of  social  change.

As  Arhin  puts  it  'Western  education,  the  new distribution  of  wealth,

Christianity,  and  the  emerging new ideas  of  the  times  helped  to

strengthen  the  leaders  of  the  destoolment  movement',  These  leaders

of  the  destoolment  movement  became more  dynamic  and vocal  in  local

politics  during the  post  colonial  situation.

In  Chapter  7» Kwame Arhin  discusses  the  future  of  traditional

rule,  and  advances  arguments,, on the  basis  of  the  data  so  far  analysed,

•for  and  against 

the  abolition  of  traditional  rule.  He concludes

by  stating  that  "Traditional  rulers  could  ensure  the  future  of  their

office  by  retting  themselves  freed  from  their  legal  dependence  on

the  central  government,  by  taking  steps  to  ensure  their  financial

independence  and by  democratising their  councils"  (see  p.  141).

~  80  -

The  book.-is'weli  written'and  contains  many -useful  ideas  which

can  be  debated  "by scholars' 'and  the  general  reading  .public..  .From ,a '

methodological  point' -of  view",  traditional  rule  is  operational, is ed : -• .\.  --£

in  specific  details  But  the' author  dwells  mainly  on  chiefs  as  the

central  figures  in'traditional  rule. 

-  "  •"

Kwame'Arhin "refers  to  the  works  of  earlier  scholars  who,, have

made  contributions  in  this  field,  notably  Mensah Sarbah,  J=  Casely-Hayford,

H,  S.  Hattray,  M. Fortes',  P.  1=  Sarpong- and Hii  AEaa Ollenu, ;,

Kwame Arhin's  book  is  'an  important  addition  to  this  body  of  available '.

literatures., and  it'- should  be  particularly  helpful  to  University

students  in.-the  faculty  of  Social  Studies,  as  well  as  to  the  general

reader  who is- interested  in  examining the  foundations  of  traditional

rule  in  Ghana.'-  '• 

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There  are  a  few  typdgraphioai' errors  such  as  'Holes  of  Succe®-. •  •

aion'  which  should  read  'Soles  of  Succession*  (see  Table  of.Contents)»

Also  Mr.  E,  N.  Omaboe  should  have been  fiven  his  full  traditional  ;  '

t i t le  under  his  picture/  Apart  from  these  minor  points,  the  book:...

deserves  GGflsnendation, 

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P.  E.  Twumasi,

___.  D.ept..of  Soeiologjr,
v' • University  of  Ghana,

lesjon.