The Ketu North Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr. Joseph Amegayibor, has emphasized that traditional rulers are legally empowered to take legal action against individuals who fail to comply with arbitration decisions, stressing the importance of respecting customary dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Mr. Joseph Amegayibor made this clarification on the airwaves of Fafaa 100.3 FM during the Duamenefa Social Intervention Program, following an explanation by the executive president of the foundation, Mr. Ketaman Emmanuel Evortepe on a case relating to the enforcement of traditional arbitration decisions.
Mr. Amegayibor was invited onto the programme to educate the public on what the law says about individuals who fail to comply with arbitration outcomes delivered by traditional rulers.
According to Mr. Ketaman Evortepe, the Duamenefa Foundation had earlier investigated a petition from Lawoshime against one Hunor Alorbu Wodoto, who was alleged to have engaged in inappropriate sexual activities with a woman on a bare floor. Following the incident, the woman reportedly began suffering from a strange illness.
Mr. Ketaman explained that after investigations by the Duamenefa Foundation, the matter was duly referred to the traditional rulers of Atiavi Glime for arbitration. At the end of the process, the alleged voodoo priest was found guilty for desecrating the land an offense considered a taboo. He was fined, with the directive that the fine be used to help heal the victim. However, for about a year, the individual failed to comply with the ruling, while the woman continued to suffer from the strange illness.
Following this explanation, Mr. Joseph Amegayibor stated that the law supports traditional rulers under customary law to take legal action against anyone who fails to comply with arbitration decisions. He explained that if a person voluntarily brings a case before traditional rulers, the outcome is legally binding, and all parties are obliged to follow and respect the ruling. According to him, this compliance is referred to as “abiding” under the law. Failure to abide by the decision is considered a legal offense, and the individual can be reported to law enforcement agencies for arrest and prosecution.
Mr. Amegayibor further stressed that enforcement of arbitration decisions is crucial for maintaining social order and trust in customary dispute-resolution systems. He noted that traditional rulers play a key role in resolving community conflicts swiftly and fairly, particularly in cases where formal courts may be slow or inaccessible. Allowing individuals to ignore rulings undermines the authority of these institutions and sets a dangerous precedent for lawlessness at the community level.
He also highlighted the educational aspect of arbitration, explaining that many disputes are resolved not just through penalties, but through reconciliation and restorative measures that benefit both parties. In the Atiavi Glime case, for instance, the fine imposed on the guilty party was intended to support the healing of the victim. Such outcomes, he explained, show that traditional arbitration combines justice with community welfare, making compliance a civic as well as legal responsibility.
Finally, Mr. Amegayibor urged the public to take arbitration outcomes seriously, warning that failure to comply could lead to prosecution, fines, or imprisonment. He encouraged individuals to seek clarification from the relevant authorities if they have questions about a ruling, rather than ignoring or defying it. He concluded that respecting customary law and its decisions strengthens both traditional authority and the broader legal system, creating safer, more harmonious communities.
By Hutor Dziwornu
Fafaa 100.3 FM, Dzodze