Philippine E-Journals

The Role of Religion in the Institution of Chieftaincy: The Case of the Akan of Ghana

Samuel Awuah-nyamekye

Discipline: Religion

 

Abstract:

A lot has so far been written about the Akan in terms of their political organization -- chieftaincy and religious beliefs and practices but not much has been done in the area of the role their religion plays in the institution of chieftaincy. Although Abraham Akrong and Owusu Brempong have separate articles on the subject in the edited volume by Awedoba and Odotei, both writers did not dwell much on the religious elements in the areas such as the selection processes, enstoolment and the administration of a chief in the Akan traditional society which this paper addresses.