Knierzinger, Johannes. "Chieftaincy and development in Ghana: From political intermediaries to neotraditional development brokers. "Department of Anthropology and African Studies of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 124 (2011).

The article posits that traditional authority figures are today best referred to as neo-traditional actors who are involved in the development of Ghana. These actors comprise of stool fathers, elders, linguists, development chiefs, chiefs, and queen mothers. There is an intersection between chieftaincy, politics, and development. Politics and development go hand in hand because when chiefs are concerned with the development of their areas, they are indirectly doing politics as they charge on government of the day to bring development to their communities. Chiefs are still popular because the institution is credited with the ability to adapt to change and fluidity as a neo-traditional system. The Chiefly elite is part of the political elite in Ghana performing functions such as dispute settlement, custodians of land, repository of customary law and ensuring community participation in development. They are development brokers who lobby international agencies and government for projects to be brought to their communities. Chiefs use social capital; social networks, maintain relationships between them and the government. Chiefs shifted focus to development agents because of their reduce roles in formal politics.

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Knierzinger, Johannes. "The Chiefs of Development." Local Development and Local Government in Ghana. Doctoral dissertation, Uniwien, Germany, 2009.

The author argues that the chieftaincy institution in Ghana is very popular and a part of the ‘elite’ political formation of Ghana. This institution is sometimes used as an agent of conflict and an instrument of elite formation. The author refers to a range of traditional leaders such as chiefs, queen mothers, elders, linguists as neotraditional actors who are involved in politics of the state and have succeeded in retaining power especially at the local level. These actors interact with other elites such as businessmen, politicians and development agencies. The author argues that there is an intersection between chieftaincy, politics, and development and this has transformed the chieftaincy institution into a neotraditional system. The transformation of neotraditional actors has led to their involvement in development.

Kobi Van Rensburg

Tenor and opera director

South Africa

naxos.com/person/Kobie_van_Rensburg/54324.htm

Marlène Koffi

Assistant Professor in Economics, University of Toronto

Email: marlene.koffi@utoronto.ca

Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC)

Peacekeeping Training Centre

Accra, Ghana

kaiptc.org

Description:

The KAIPTC undertakes training and research in peace-keeping and support operations and it is one of the Peacekeeping and Peace Support Operations in Africa.

Amadou Kone

Academic/Writer, Professor of Francophone Literature and African Cultural Studies at Georgetown University, USA

loc.gov/item/webcast-6188/

gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014RiIzAAK/amadou-kone

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Isaac Koomson

Researcher, University  of New England

Contact: ikoomso2@une.edu.au

Kotzé, Hennie, and Jo-Ansie Van Wyk. “Paradise or Parking Lots? A Comparison between the Attitudes of the South African Business Elite and the Rest of the Elite on Selected Environmental Issues.” Politikon 21, no. 2 (1994): 28–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589349408705007.

Corporate South Africa was characterised in the past by a technocratic ideology, namely, that technology and scientific know-how will offer solutions to any environmental problems which might arise. This "marketplace" mentality often brought it into conflict with the environmental movement. This research article examines the new awareness of the South African business elite toward selected environmental issues and compares this to the attitudes of the rest of the South African elite. Although the environment was largely overshadowed by the constitutional negotiations it will continue to remain the crucial issue of this decade as the degradation of the environment is an indication of both poverty and wealth. Environmental questions fall within the sphere of the influence and power which important decision-makers exercise. An investigation into the views of the South African business elite and opinion-leaders on these issues can also give us an idea of their priorities on development.

Source: Article's abstract