African-Americans installed as sub- chiefs

Tanoso (Brong Ahafo) 17 May ?99

An African-American, Bishop William Lockhart of the Temple of Faith Ministry was last Tuesday installed as Nkosuohene of Tano in the Techiman District, under the stool name Nana Yeboah Ashimah.

At the same ceremony, which was performed by Nana Kwasi Kwarteng Ababio, chief of Tanoso, Bishop Lockhart's mother, Berty Brown, was also installed as the Tanoso Nkosuohemaa. Her stool name is Nana Akosua Fosuaah Aduanwoma.

His two sisters, Mary and Rose, were given Ghanaian names as Amma Kraah Ntiriwah and Amma Twumawaah, respectively.

Bishop Lochart recalled the misery of the slave trade and disclosed that God revealed to him 29 years ago that Tanoso was his ancestral home adding that it was therefore a joy for him to set his foot on his ancestral land at last.

Nana Yeboah Ashimah expressed his determination to bring development and prosperity to the town through the provision of schools, good roads, a church, orphanage, and Christian education centres among others.

He launched a branch of his church in the town, saying it would be the "super structure" of the development of the area.

Mr Clement Antwi-Boasiako, assembly member, paid tribute to those who fought to abolish the slave trade and subsequently guaranteed freedom to all Africans who fell victim to the obnoxious trade.

He was happy that African-Americans are now searching for their roots as a result of which Bishop Lockhart has found Tanoso to be his ancestral home.

Congratulating them, Nana Owusu Korkor, Akwamuhene of Tanoso said the homecoming and enstoolment of Bishop Lockhart had overwhelmed him.

The Bishop automatically becomes a royal of the Akwamu stool of Tanoso.

Nana Kwasi Kwarteng Ababio promised to offer land to the Bishop to enable him carry out his intended development programmes.