The General Features of Pre-Colonial Ghanaian States

This tutorial takes a quick look at the general features of pre-colonial Ghanaian states.

Your WASSCE/WAEC Government question on this topic may come in the form of the questions below.

QUESTION: DESCRIBE THE FEATURES (STRUCTURE) OF A PRE-COLONIAL GHANAIAN KINGDOM

Table of Contents

1 Please Note:

2 Introduction

3 Paramount chief/king

4 Divisional or Sub-Chiefs

Please Note:

The bullet points below must be expanded into paragraphs for an acceptable WAEC/WASSCE Government essay.

Introduction

Before the advent of colonial rule, Ghanaian chiefdoms or kingdoms had a well-organized system of political administration.

Mention could be made of the Akan, Mole-Dagbani, Anlo and Ga states.

Paramount chief/king

Head of all traditional rulers

Performed legislative executive and judicial functions e.g. law-maker, judge, commander-in-chief, administrator, religious leader etc.

Divisional or Sub-Chiefs

They ruled the sub-division of the kingdom

Directly came under paramount chief

Under the divisional chiefs were district rulers, village chiefs or headmen in that order

The pre-colonial Akan political system was therefore CENTRALIZED

The Queen mother

Mother of the maternal royal family

Nominated the successor to the chief when the seat became vacant.

Sat with chief in court

Had her own linguist and councilors

Could become paramount ruler when no successor was found immediately

Advisor to the chief and council of elders

Controller of women affairs

Could be deposed

The Linguist

Chief’s spokesman

Well-versed in oral tradition

Council of elders

Members were heads of families

Approved the nomination of chiefs

Advised the chief

Could destool the chief

Asafo Companies

Youth groups made up of commoners
Performed para-military functions

Provided communal labour for the provision of social amenities

Judiciary

Presided over by the chief/king

Could use trial by ordeal.

Treasury

Kept revenue from court fees, fines, sale of land, taxes etc