Second, there may be some degree of resentment among significant
sections of residents in both Elmina and Cape Coast toward both tourism
development and tourists. There are indications that residents are
not aware of the nature of such development projects, either due to
deliberate efforts to exclude them or simply due to withheld information.
Bruner stated that the Council of Chiefs of Elmina has accused
the regional planning agency—the Central Region Development Commission—
of “not informing them of its plans for tourism development,
even though that development is taking place in their area of jurisdiction”
(1996:297). Since traditional rulers in Ghana who are known as
chiefs, still wield tremendous authority over their subjects, practically
consisting of the entire community, incurring their displeasure ripples
throughout the entire community. For example, one sensitive point is
the chiefs’ contention that land, on which Elmina Castle is located,
belongs to the stool or the symbol of their traditional rule, which
requires payment of royalties.