Akan Deities as Agents of Conflict Resolution Mechanism in Ghana

Abstract

The chapter takes an integrative look at a largely neglected field of conflict resolution mechanism in Ghana: the extent to which belief in traditional deities both enhance and undercut justice delivery systems in society. It contends that through duabɔ (imprecation) there is an enduring influence of traditional deities as part of legal regulatory frameworks in society. The chapter, thus, uncovers the hidden resources of traditional deities as useful channels of conflict resolution. The chapter draws on proceedings from the Akan customary conflict resolution mechanism to demonstrate both the usefulness and challenges of traditional justice delivery method in contemporary Ghana and encourages the need for its modification to suit the needs of legal modernity. The chapter is the product of a qualitative analysis of empirical ethnographic material gathered from the everyday facts of Ghanaian religious communities and public domain.