Traditional Rulers as Agents of Public Service Delivery: A Study of Education, Infrastructure, Sanitation, and Recreation in Asante Akyem Central Municipal Assembly, Ghana

Traditional rulers remain influential in Ghana’s decentralized governance landscape, yet their developmental roles are often overlooked. This study explores how chiefs in the Asante Akyem Central Municipal Assembly contribute to public service delivery—specifically in education, infrastructure, sanitation, and recreational activities. Guided by a mixed-methods design, the study combined surveys, interviews, and document analysis to gather data from community members, officials, and traditional leaders. Findings reveal that chiefs actively facilitate school projects, community sanitation, physical infrastructure, and youth development through informal authority and resource mobilization. The study concludes that traditional rulers are pivotal partners in local development. It recommends their formal integration into governance processes to enhance collaboration, accountability, and sustainability in public service delivery.