Another Great Tree is felled

Ominous signs could be in the air for Ghanaians this year. Hardly had the nation gotten over the shock of the death of perhaps, its greatest king, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the II, Asantehene, than the news of the passing away of another monarch hits the headlines. This time it is that of Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku the III, Okyenhene, and President of the National House Chiefs, who is believed to have passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, March 17. The 57-year old Osagyefuo is believed to have died at the 37 Military Hospital, after a brief illness. Though no official confirmation has been given of his death, as is to be expected on such occasions when tradition demands the performance of certain rites before a formal announcement is made, events at the Ofori Penin Fie, the Okyenhene's official residence in Accra, gave enough indication of the passing away of yet another bulwark in the traditional setting of the country. As the few privileged members of the household whispered among themselves about the death, word soon got round and by the afternoon of Wednesday, March 17, the Ofori Penin Fie was virtually besieged by hundreds of tearful subjects of the Osagyefuo. The gates to the house were uncharacteristically left wide open, and subjects of one of the powerful traditional settings in Ghana who had all of sudden been left fatherless, were left wondering what fate has befallen them. In terms of importance, the Okyenhene is perhaps, ranked second only to the Asantehene. Elected President of the prestigious National House of Chiefs only last year, his death coming soon after that of the Asantehene has set many tongues wagging as to what has befallen the chieftaincy institution. Known in private life as Dr. Alex Fredua Agyeman, the late Okyenhene was born at Kyebi on February 22, 1942 to Samuel Joseph Okoampa Agyeman of Asiakwa near Kyebi and Madam Juliana Abena Akoto of Kyebi. Alex, as he was commonly called by his friends, started his schooling at the Asiakwa Presbyterian Primary School from 1948 to1951 and continued at the Asamankese Presbyterian Middle School and completed at the Akim Tafo Presbyterian Middle School in 1956. Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku had his secondary education at the Prempeh College from 1957 to 1961 from where he obtained his Ordinary Level Certificate (GCE 'O' Level). In the same year, he entered Accra Academy to pursue his sixth form course. Within the same period, he was awarded a government scholarship and left for Sofia State University, in Bulgaria to study medicine. In 1962 there was a deadly clash between African students and their white counterparts at the university campus resulting in the transfer of all African students, including the Osagyefuo to Konen-sky University where he continued his studies until 1968. In 1969, Dr. Alex Fredua went to Charles University in Prague, the former Czechoslovakia were he finally qualified as a medical doctor in June 1970. When he returned home in 1972, Dr. Alex Fredua Agyeman was posted to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and worked there until mid-1974. Between 1974 and 1976 he worked at the Ridge Hospital, Castle Clinic and at the same time served as Medical Officer in charge of the Stadium Clinic, all in Accra. On August 2, 1976, Dr. Alex Fredua Agyeman was installed Paramount Chief of the Abuakwa Traditional Area. He succeeded his late uncle Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku II who died in 1975. Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku III held offices as the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, member of the National House of Chiefs, member of the Consultative Assembly, member of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council and until his untimely death was the President of the National House of Chiefs. He was also a member of the Council of State a position he held by virtue of his status as President of the National House of Chiefs. GRi

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