Asantehene finally goes to Breman

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 26 March '99

A burial service was held for the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, at the Saint Cyprian Anglican Cathedral in Kumasi on Thursday. The Right Reverend Daniel Yinka Sarfo, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, officiated at the service and was assisted by the Right Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Catholic Bishop of Kumasi, the Rev. Kwaku Asamoah Okyere, Kumasi District Chairman of the Methodist Church, and Rev Dr Effah Ababio, Chairman of the Ashanti Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church. Present were the Vice-President John Atta Mills and his wife, Naadu, Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Paramount Chiefs, leaders of political parties, the clergy, diplomats and heads of security services. The casket of the Asantehene, draped in green and black flag and borne on the shoulders of eight soldiers and escorted by the clergy, arrived at the chapel by 3 p.m. The casket was put on a pier decorated with gold, black and green, the colours of Asanteman. The soldiers thereafter stood at attention for some minutes, turned to the right and marched off amidst blowing of horns and dirges. In a funeral oration, Bishop Sarpong said the Otumfuo was a symbol of unity and peace. He was of humble disposition and brought significant changes in the institution of chieftaincy. The Asantehene exuded all that is beautiful about the institution of chieftaincy, adding that to him, the essence of Christianity is to have faith in Christ. Bishop Sarpong said the Asantehene resolved conflicts between ethnic groups, chiefs and individuals, saying he was an apostle of peace, reconciliation and tranquillity. Bishop Sarpong said the late Asantehene was a good Ambassador for Ghana, as he played host to the Pope, world leaders and statesmen and was also granted audience by leaders all over the world. The Asantehene, he said, displayed the rich Ghanaian culture to the outside world. He was also magnanimous, humble and forgiving. Bishop Sarpong prayed that God, in his mercies, grant Asanteman and the nation another "Asantehene who will continue the good works of the late Otumfuo". A tribute by the government read by the vice-president said the Asantehene was a gracious and accommodating father who listened patiently to everybody and offered appropriate advice. He said his "death is therefore a great loss to Asante and the Nation". The Asantehene, Prof Mills said, promoted the exposure of the rich Asante cultural heritage to the international community, thus winning glory and honour for Asante and Ghana. The tribute by the Council of State said the Asantehene was not only a King of Asante but also the father of the nation and a unifying factor. The tribute by the National House of Chiefs recalled that the Otumfuo was a former President of the House and said chiefs play a very important and modernising role in national affairs. There were also tributes by his children and the Anglican Church, as well as messages from world leaders and religious organisations from all parts of the world. The Provost of the Cathedral, the Very Rev. Albert Mensah, in a welcoming address said the whole nation is bereaved by the death of the Asantehene. "Asantehene was for all Churches and all Churches for the Asantehene", and as such, the burial service is non- denominational, he said. Later, old students of Adisadel College clustered round the casket and sang a popular Adisadel school song, "Santa Clausian". The military later carried the casket to a waiting Pinzgauer, as the army band struck a military tune and escorted the casket in a convoy of cars to the Bantama Royal mausoleum for a wreath laying ceremony, which formed part of the state burial. Earlier, the casket was carried aloft by courtiers, chiefs and pall-bearers from the palace in a funeral procession along the Antoa road to Apagyafie. The cortege then turned left to Allabar, through the Zongo police station to Maxwell road, then to the Saint Cyprian Church for the service. People clad in mourning clothes flocked the sides of the road to catch a glimpse of the casket, as women sang dirges and others shouted appelations. It was a solemn soul-gripping scene and a fitting memorial for an Asantehene, whose immeasurable patience, tolerance, sublime disposition and radiance were matchless. The general consensus was that really, "odupon atutu" (a mighty tree has fallen), as Otumfuo Opoku Ware was sent to join his ancestors at the final resting place, the royal mausoleum at Breman, near Kumasi. More