Volume: 27  Number: 5  Page: 359–374  doi:10.2167/jmmd428.1

Akan Traditional Arbitration: Its Structure and Language

Kofi Agyekum Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

This paper examines the basic components of the process of settlement, types of offences and language of Akan traditional arbitration. The paper also considers arbitration and Akan sociocultural norms and values. The paper finally discusses the status of Akan arbitration within the context of contemporary forms of adjudication, democracy, Westernisation, urbanisation, Christianity and Islam. The paper argues that arbitration is still an alternative form of conflict resolution.

Keywords: arbitration, conflicts, disputes, disputants, complainant, reconciliation

© 2006 K. Agyekum

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