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General News on Thursday, April 4, 2019
Source: yen.com.gh
2019-04-04
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
2019 marks the 20th anniversary of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. This is how Isaac Kyei Andoh tells the story of how he became the leader of the most self-sufficient chiefs in Ghana.
At the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II in 1999, Nana Barima Kweku Dua, now Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was not the legitimate person who succeeded the deceased ruler, but things were unfavorable to him.
In the tradition of Asante, until the dead man's senior lineage is exhausted, the responsibility does not exceed the nephews.
Akwasi Agyemang was a cousin of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and the only man in the running to succeed.
Indeed, Akwesi Agyemang lived most of his life knowing that he was well placed to lead Asante after the death of his brother (actually, his cousin, since Opoku Ware II was the son from Aunt Agyemang).
Agyemang would have been enthusiastic about mentioning the name Daakyehene (future ruler) because, at birth, it was his legitimate position.
However, the personal life and archives of Akwasi Agyemang prevented him from being deemed fit to hold this position.
Thus, Nana Barima Kweku Dua, who had the additional advantage of being one of the five children of Nana Afia Kobi, the queen mother of Asante, became the leader of Asante.
The queen mother by tradition elects leaders for the Asante.
The fall of Akwasi Agyemang had been epic. Prior to the 1979 coup, he was president of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).
And as part of the activities that characterized the coup d'etat, key people were arrested and treated of all kinds as punishment.
Akwasi Agyemang was arrested as part of the cleanup of the revolution. But being openly political was frowned upon by members close to the stool of the Asante royal family.
As a result, his reputation has been greatly deteriorated. As part of his punishment, the revolutionary soldiers forced Agyemang to transport human waste in a bucket in public.
It was just as taboo for an heir to wear anything, much more human waste. According to fate, Akwasi Agyemang will later become a close friend of Jerry John Rawlings, leader of the 1979 coup.
Agyemang also became an influential leader of the National Democratic Congress (NEC) and when Ghana became a democracy again in 1992, Rawlings appointed him head of the KMA.
The NDC was already an unpopular party in the Ashanti region, but the time of Agyemang as head of the KMA was also marked by violence and intimidation directed against its detractors policies.
He was, for example, accused of leading a demolition exercise that had vandalized squatter properties, while some of them were still inside and reportedly killing many people during the night. process.
Indeed, no leader of the KMA before or after Akwasi Agyemang has been charged with anything that is close to his level of violence and intimidation.
It is notorious that at one point the 46 deputies in the KMA's jurisdiction signed a resolution to no longer work with him because of the way he administered his office.
Interestingly, Agyemang affectionately called Okumkom, which means "the hunger killer".
This showed that people had a rather love-hate relationship with him.
But the conduct of Agyemang facilitated the task of Queen Afia Kobi Ampem.
As the final arbiter of the chief's appointment, the queen-mother thought her son, Kweku Dua, suited him better. After all, Dua had spent most of his life preparing for such a moment and had never blamed anything, at least to the public's knowledge.
As part of the preparation for Kweku Dua at such a time, he was taken to Sefwi Wiaso instead of the prestigious Prempeh College or Opoku Ware Secondary School, for the purpose of attending a training under Sefwi Wiaso's tutelage.
When it became clear that Kweku Dua would be Asante's next leader, Akwasi Agyemang reportedly attempted to reverse the events ahead.
With an alleged threat to Kweku Dua's life, the then regional minister in Ashanti, Kojo Yankah, acted swiftly and deployed soldiers for the protection of Dua until his coronation.
Without the support of the regional minister, Agyemang's alleged last resort efforts proved futile.
The defeat against the NDC in the 2000 elections effectively puts an end to the influence of Agyemang and for 20 years, Kweku Dua has ruled with efficiency and success as Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
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