The question of who holds the council or the decision-makers accountable for a poor decision becomes the centre of attention here. Traditionally, Samoans believe that the council is accountable to God for the decisions that it makes. This may sound outrageous, but there are strong cultural practices and beliefs that support such conviction. One for instance refers to the ritual of bestowing matai titles. This ritual starts with the ‘ava (kava) ceremony and according to the Samoan custom, this is about worshipping the gods of the Samoans. In the context of bestowing titles, the ‘ava ceremony gives the village council the opportunity to thank God for its guidance to the family’s paramount chief (Sa’o) for choosing those members of his/her family who are receiving the matai titles. Part of the council’s representative speech also asks God to bless the family members chosen to become matai. Importantly, the bestowing of matai titles cannot be completed witout the ‘ava ceremony and the participation of the village council.