President John Mahama has announced plans by the government to codify chieftaincy succession processes in the Upper West Region as part of efforts to reduce disputes and strengthen peace within traditional areas.

According to the President, clearly documenting royal families, succession gates and rotational arrangements will help remove uncertainties surrounding the selection of chiefs and prevent conflicts triggered by disagreements over rightful successors.

President Mahama made the remarks on Wednesday, July 8, when members of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House.

He commended traditional leaders in the region for their contribution to maintaining peace, particularly at a time when neighbouring countries within the Sahel continue to experience instability.

"Peace remains the foundation of prosperity, and I commend the Regional House of Chiefs for its role in keeping the Upper West as one of Ghana's most peaceful regions amid the instability in the wider Sahel area," he said.

However, President Mahama stressed that formalising succession processes had become necessary to address disputes arising from the selection and installation of traditional leaders.

"But like the President of the House of Chiefs said, we should continue and go ahead to codify the succession. Nowadays, the kingmakers have become corrupt. And so, even though they know who is the rightful person, a big envelope can change their minds," he stated.

The President expressed concern that financial inducements have, in some instances, influenced traditional processes, leading to the selection of individuals without legitimate claims to stools or skins.

"They go and bring somebody who has absolutely nothing to do with the royal family and want to install the person as the leader of the traditional area. And that is what creates the conflicts," he said.

President Mahama explained that a properly documented succession system would provide clarity on eligible royal families and the order in which succession should take place.

He expressed confidence that such reforms would help minimise chieftaincy disputes and promote harmony across traditional areas.

"If we codify the families and the various gates and the rotational succession, we should have more peace in this country than we have seen lately," he added.