Traditional Authorities and Police Aren’t Rivals Struggling for Relevance- Asantehene

The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has affirmed that the institution of traditional authorities and police as law enforcement agents are not at enmity.

According to His Majesty, their roles do not put them in conflict with each other as they are collaborators safeguarding the future.

Speaking at the National Police headquarters in Accra on January 6, 2026, Otumfuo said his historic visit was aimed at institutionalising cooperation between traditional authorities and the Ghana Police Service.

His Majesty made a strong case for the adoption of customs and culture in the modern law enforcement landscape.

“Custom was the first law. Culture was the first Constitution. It taught restraint before punishment, responsibility before rights and harmony before victory. It reminded people that their actions didn’t end with themselves, that every deed echoed through family lineage and memory.

“In those days, the child feared disappointing an elder more than facing authority. A man thought twice before wrongdoing, not because of arrest but because shame would outlive him. Conduct was shaped long before crime could take place.”

By application and collaboration between the guardians of culture and the protectors of law, the Asantehene asserted that a safer and more peaceful society would be guaranteed.

“Culture cannot do without the police and the police cannot succeed without culture…The Tradition and modern law enforcement are not rivals struggling for relevance. They are collaborators safeguarding the same future.”

“When traditional authorities respect legal authorities, communities stabilise. When police respect local customs, cooperation deepens. When both communicate openly, crime loses its hiding place. If law alone can save society, then countries with the thickest laws would have no prisons at all, yet even prisons have rules and require values.”

Emphasising the need for partnership with chiefs in community policing, His Majesty noted that no society can outsource morality entirely to the state and expect peace.

“Let chiefs serve as allies in community policing. Let officers be trained to understand the customs of the people they protect. Let dialogue precede deployment and mediation precede confrontation. This is not softness; it is intelligence. The nature of public order lies not in louder sirens but in stronger values supported by competent, disciplined law enforcement.”

New Year Message
His Majesty used the occasion to convey warm wishes to the entire police body.

“Let me, in the spirit of the New Year, convey a message of glad tidings to the gallant men and women who make up the Ghana Police Service… We bring you hope for progress and prosperity in the years to come.”

Credit for Globally Acclaimed Safety
Otumfuo also acknowledged and commended police officers across the country for their selfless sacrifices to keep the country safe.

The Asantehene recognised their service of commitment and professionalism despite the many challenging hurdles of the service, as he credited the Police Service for the global peace of the country.

“When we snuggle in our comfortable beds at night, we cannot forget that there are thousands of our sons and daughters battling with mosquitoes while dutifully protecting them from the snares of criminal minds. And while we travel along our motorways, whether in our shining limousines or humble trotros or Aboboyaa and Pragya, we cannot forget that there are again thousands of our sons and daughters keeping guard in the most uncomfortable spots just to make sure we arrive safely at our destinations.”

Integrity Gap
That said, Otumfuo also reechoed the need to give the needed attention to persistent public disquiet about lapses in discipline and mistrust.

“We have to admit that there are going to be more mountains to climb if we ignore the concerns about the police values. I have always believed that the discipline and values instilled during training by the police and military shape one for a lifetime.

“No one who goes through the training is ever in doubt about what the uniform represents and the values they profess to uphold when they bear the coat of arms, so it is puzzling to say the least when Ghanaians see the men in uniform in a manner that evidently compromises the integrity of the service.”

Political Neutrality
His Majesty also raised concerns about the play of politics in the service, as he encouraged the IGP to root it out.

“I always hope you work towards making the Service politically neutral. There will always be one government responsible for the state of Ghana, and as the police service of the state, you have sworn to be unalloyed in your loyalty to the government, but there must be a line drawn between the government and the political party.”

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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