Opinions of Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Columnist: Rockson Adofo

Posterity may not spare the current Kumawuman sub-chiefs for being pococurante

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The future generation will surely hold the entire Kumawuman sub-chiefs ignorantly, maliciously, or nonchalantly following, or paying allegiance to, Dr Yaw Sarfo as Kumawuhene, to account. For being utterly pococurante (nonchalant) while Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II arrogates to himself powers to not only enstool but also, impose a royal candidate of his choice as Kumawuhene with intent to take full ownership of, and control over, Kumawuman, as though it was one of the suburbs of Kumasi where is the paramount chief, posterity will spit fire on them even if posthumously.

Do the Kumawuman sub-chiefs really understand the position and rights of Kumawu as a Division within Asanteman Council, formerly the Asante Confederacy? Do they know that once in the history of the Asantes, a Kumawuhene by name Barima Tweneboa Kodua I, the originator of the Kumawu Kodua Stool, did offer himself to be sacrificed to guarantee Asantes victory in their war against their most powerful and most fearful archenemy, Nana Ntim Gyakari of the Denkyira empire? His sacrificial also ensured the safety and protection of Asanteman with the Asantes becoming more powerful to conquer other enemies to expand the Asante territory?

Do the Kumawuman sub-chiefs know that Barima Tweneboa Kodua I permitted himself to be sacrificed on the agreement of certain conditions principally among which are the following?

No Asante chief from any of the Divisions (Asante States come together to form the Asante Confederacy) must ever attempt to possess any part of, or come to feed on, Kumawuman lands.

No subject of Kumawuman must ever suffer death by machete or knife at the hands of Asanteman. This means nobody from Kumawu must be killed on the death of an Asante King or chief. This is because the Asantes used to kill people to remove their heads to bury a deceased King or chief with.
The states within the Asante Confederacy must never dare team up to go to war on Kumawuman.

Do the Kumawu sub-chiefs know that in 1938 a document was signed by Asanteman chiefs reaffirming that all the land in Ashanti belongs to the various chiefs? This means Asantehene is not the Overlord of Asanteman to claim the total or partial ownership of the entire Ashanti land? Do the Kumawuman sub-chiefs know that Asantehene has absolutely no power over Kumawuman when it comes to the enstoolment and destoolment of their chiefs? Do they know that the selection and election of a Kumawu chief-elect does not take place in Manhyia Palace? However, the selection of Dr Yaw Sarfo as Kumawu chief-elect took place at Manhyia Palace on 24 February 2014 at the behest of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his collusive Asanteman chiefs.

For the attention of the Kumawuman sub-chiefs, I put it to you that you are very conversant with all the prevailing or standing Kumawuman traditions and customs regarding enstoolment and destoolment of Kumawu chiefs and the lack of right by Asantehene to interfere in Kumawu chieftaincy affairs. Nonetheless, for what you were promised, you are playing ignorance while Asantehene acts abusively towards Kumawuman.

Some of you were promised cars and/houses by Kumawuhemaa were you to throw your support behind her candidate, Dr Yaw Sarfo, to become Kumawuhene and were Dr Yaw Sarfo able to withdraw the blocked Kumawuman fund in the bowels of the Bank of Ghana. Am I right? For what you wanted to gain as individuals, you do not care whether Asantehene will take the entire Kumawuman land and her subjects, thereby making nonsense the demise of Barima Tweneboa Kodua I and his agreed demands as stated above.

Read the content of the following web link to know why Asantehene is resolutely determined to impose Dr Yaw Sarfo on Kumawuman as their paramount chief. You are very much aware of it and I hope your guilty conscience will torment you until your dying day for posterity to speak disparagingly about you and to remember you, although posthumously, as elders who sacrificed Kumawuman on the altar to pacify a bullying Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and for the acquisition of your selfish interests


Cogitate about your attitudes. Put the collective interests of Kumawuman above your individual selfish interests. Don’t let the blood of Barima Tweneboa Kodua I become vain. Stand up to defend it for the sake of the future generation of Kumawuman. Don’t let the pangs of your stomach dictate to you to do the wrong things by being supportive of Asantehene and Dr Yaw Sarfo to inflict perpetual pain of robbery of Kumawuman lands and wealth with Mampong speaking derogatorily about Barima Tweneboa Kodua I’s sacrificial death.

Let your conscience and posterity judge you, whatever you do after reading or becoming aware of this publication .