Traditional Authorities and Peace Building: A Study of Eguafo Traditional Area

Abstract

Since the early 1990s a growing emphasis on peace building has marked the international community’s response to conflict. Even though it has scarcely been highlighted traditional peace building has been part of the traditional governance system before the introduction of the contemporary court system. The study sought to analyse the traditional peace building process at Eguafo Traditional Area in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality. Purposive sampling method was adopted to select the paramount chief, four sub-chiefs and six elders for in-depth interviews, and the divisional chiefs and queens for focus group discussions. Underpinned by the conflict transformation perspective and the peace building integrated framework, the study identified that traditional authorities used reconciliatory approaches to build peace in the traditional area. Additionally, diplomacy, negotiation, peaceful settlement and community participation were the main peace building tools that are often adopted. To an extent, the Municipal Assembly and the Police participated in the peace building process. Further research is relevant to thoroughly discuss the effects of activities of the ‘conflict entrepreneurs’, and to buttress the need for a modification of the peace building integrated framework.