Traditional systems of governance and the modern state: keynote address presented by his royal majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. asantehene at the Fourth African Development Forum

Abstract

Keynote address presented by His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Asantene at the fourth African Development Forum. His Royal Majesty Osei Tutu II, on his remarks highlighted that, African societies, throughout the centuries, have been organized on the basis of a social contract whereby people come together to form a state or nation because they believe that, through their combined efforts, they will be more able to realize their common aspirations for peace and security, which are essential for their physical and spiritual welfare and progress, both as individuals and as a community. The people who exercised governmental authority were referred to by various names in different parts of Africa, such as kings, chiefs, elders, leopard skin chiefs, emirs and so on they ruled or governed their societies with the assistance of lower-rank rulers, as well as a large number and levels of advisers who for the most part also occupied their positions by virtue of their family or clan origins and status. In some African countries, the colonial authorities appointed chiefs directly thereby underscoring the uncomfortable fact that they were colonial creations, which were ultimately abolished with the demise of colonial rule. The modern chief, stripped of political and executive power and formal financial support, has to address these basic needs for his people using his ingenuity, diplomacy, power of motivation and sometimes his own personal resources. Our main contention is that traditional authorities are natural and obvious partners in the development process and governance in Africa.