Cincinnati Asantefuohene Swears Oath Of Allegiance

It was a night to remember, tradition at its best. On this day, Saturday May 12 2012, all Ashanti’s , and in fact all Ghanaians resident in the Cincinnati metro area of Ohio in the U.S.A , converged at the spacious John Wesley Methodist church auditorium in Fairfield, a suburb of Cincinnati to witness rare Ghanaian tradition.

It was the day that the newly installed Asantefuohene of the Cincinnati metro area, Nana Opoku Asante Kotoko, known in private life as Mr. Adu Poku swore the oath of the allegiance to the great Asanteman. Also swearing the oath of allegiance was the queen mother elect, Nana Abenaa Obiyaa the former Ms. Patricia Badu as well as the various sub chiefs.

With pomp and pageantry, the evening started with the beating of traditional drums by the renowned Cincinnati Sankofa Kete group, and singing and dancing. With all the chiefs and most of Asanteman dressed in black and in a mood of apprehension, they waited anxiously and wondered who their king and queen might be. Then came the moment they have all been waiting for, as Nana Abenaa Obiyaa was ushered in, introduced to the elders of Asanteman and accepted as their queen and promptly swore the oath of allegiance. Minutes later, Nana Opoku Asante Kotoko, led by the Asante Abusuapanin was brought in, introduced and accepted. He immediately swore the great oath of Asanteman, amid great jubilation, singing and dancing and the pouring of powder on the king and queen. The newly enstooled king and queen swore the great oath of Asanteman, indicating their readiness to be faithful and of service to Asanteman whether rain or shine, even in snowstorms or thunderstorms. Then after, all the sub chiefs took their turns to swear the oath of loyalty to the new king and queen. This was followed by the rest of Asanteman and all present. There were congratulatory messages from the Brong Ahafo Association, the Ga-Adangbe Association, the Kwahu Association as well as the Men’s Club of Cincinnati.

In an address later, the new Asantefuohene thanked his sub chiefs and the rest of Asanteman for the honor done him. He promised to serve them and not lord over them, and called for unity and oneness. He took the opportunity to invite all Asantes in the area sitting on the fence to join them to build a strong and prosperous Asanteman.