Framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north-western Ghana
AbstractThe global spread of conflict is unimaginable, and Africa is especially plagued with this conundrum. In the West African sub-region, traditional and formal (inherited/western) adjudicatory institutions operate independently of each other in the same environment irrespective of the fact that...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2268974 |
| _version_ | 1827586865082925056 |
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| author | Thaddeus Arkum Aasoglenang Samuel Ziem Bonye Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh |
| author_facet | Thaddeus Arkum Aasoglenang Samuel Ziem Bonye Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh |
| author_sort | Thaddeus Arkum Aasoglenang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractThe global spread of conflict is unimaginable, and Africa is especially plagued with this conundrum. In the West African sub-region, traditional and formal (inherited/western) adjudicatory institutions operate independently of each other in the same environment irrespective of the fact that both institutions function to create an ordered society for the same group of persons. Evidence shows that efforts made over the years to integrate the operations of the two institutions in the context of conflict resolution in Ghana have proven unsuccessful. The aim of this paper is to proffer an appropriate framework that could enable the traditional and western adjudicatory institutions to build synergies to resolve conflicts. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with key informants and FGDs. Using a qualitative research design approach, 27 respondents including chiefs, tengandem (earth priests), and technocrats (practicing lawyers, court administrators, Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice) working in western adjudicatory institutions were contacted and interviewed. The thematic analytical approach was used to analyse data. The results revealed that the traditional and western adjudicatory institutions have not been able to build synergies to resolve conflicts due to mistrust, lack of capacity and recognition of traditional actors, and the power play between the two adjudicatory institutions. The study concludes by recommending a hybrid regime where the two adjudicatory institutions could come together to resolve conflicts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:07:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b27b7352056437f84c03533c4019ce6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1886 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:07:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b27b7352056437f84c03533c4019ce62023-12-12T12:45:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862023-12-019210.1080/23311886.2023.2268974Framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north-western GhanaThaddeus Arkum Aasoglenang0Samuel Ziem Bonye1Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh2Faculty of Public Policy and Governance, Department of Public Policy and Management, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, GhanaFaculty of Planning and Land Management, Department of Community Development, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, GhanaFaculty of Planning and Land Management, Department of Community Development, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, GhanaAbstractThe global spread of conflict is unimaginable, and Africa is especially plagued with this conundrum. In the West African sub-region, traditional and formal (inherited/western) adjudicatory institutions operate independently of each other in the same environment irrespective of the fact that both institutions function to create an ordered society for the same group of persons. Evidence shows that efforts made over the years to integrate the operations of the two institutions in the context of conflict resolution in Ghana have proven unsuccessful. The aim of this paper is to proffer an appropriate framework that could enable the traditional and western adjudicatory institutions to build synergies to resolve conflicts. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with key informants and FGDs. Using a qualitative research design approach, 27 respondents including chiefs, tengandem (earth priests), and technocrats (practicing lawyers, court administrators, Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice) working in western adjudicatory institutions were contacted and interviewed. The thematic analytical approach was used to analyse data. The results revealed that the traditional and western adjudicatory institutions have not been able to build synergies to resolve conflicts due to mistrust, lack of capacity and recognition of traditional actors, and the power play between the two adjudicatory institutions. The study concludes by recommending a hybrid regime where the two adjudicatory institutions could come together to resolve conflicts.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2268974adjudicatory formal and traditional institutionsbuilding synergiesconflict resolutionlaw of sociologylegal pluralismNorth-Western Ghana |
| spellingShingle | Thaddeus Arkum Aasoglenang Samuel Ziem Bonye Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh Framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north-western Ghana Cogent Social Sciences adjudicatory formal and traditional institutions building synergies conflict resolution law of sociology legal pluralism North-Western Ghana |
| title | Framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north-western Ghana |
| title_full | Framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north-western Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north-western Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north-western Ghana |
| title_short | Framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north-western Ghana |
| title_sort | framework for building synergies of the traditional and formal political adjudicatory institutions in conflict resolution in north western ghana |
| topic | adjudicatory formal and traditional institutions building synergies conflict resolution law of sociology legal pluralism North-Western Ghana |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2268974 |
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