Tepahene Creates Furor in Washington, D.C.

Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem, Omanhene of Tepa Traditional Area last Sunday June 1st, went to Washington, D.C., and ended up creating confusion among Asante associations in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

According to reliable sources, the background to the story has a long trail.

In 1982, some Asante in the Washington, D.C. area formed what came to be known as Asante Kotoko Association (AKA) of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. While other ethnic groups had formed community associations, efforts to establish an Asante association had been unsuccessful, until AKA came into being. At the inaugural ceremony, the group invited Asantes from other areas of the United States to attend, as an encouragement to the formation of similar Asante associations elsewhere in the United States. Among out-of-state Asantes who attended the AKA function, was a group from New York City.

Upon their return to New York, the group formed the Asanteman Association of New York. Unlike their counterparts in Washington whose elected leader was a president, the New York Asanteman Association (NYAA) decided to adopt chieftaincy, thereby electing a Chief, styled as Asantemanhene of New York, whose elected term was for 2 years. Several Asante associations sprouted around the USA and Canada, whose leaders are styled Asantemanhene of Chicago, or whatever city a new Asante association emerged. Each of these "Asantemanhene" claimed to have a Black Stool sent to them from Manhyia as confirmation of Otumfuo, the Asanthenene's imprimatur. Currently, there are fissures within the ranks of the various Asanteman Chiefs in the USA over grand designs by the New York Asantemanhene to be designated as "Paramount Chief" with the others as his subordinates!

A splinter group from the AKA in Washington, set up a new Asantemankuo (A-DC) in about 1987, with an Asantemanhene in Washington. The AKA, however held on to their principle of electing a president as their leader, arguing that a group does not need to elect a Chief in order to portray Asante culture. They insist AKA portrays Asante culture through their cultural troupe and other activities, topped by their annual dance and cultural show, which also serves as a fundraiser to support activities in Asante Region of Ghana. The AKA is well known for contributing variously to Okomfo Anokye Hospital in Kumase, the Otumfuo Education Fund, and other charities in Ghana and the United States.

This past January, an attempt to unite AKA and the A-DC run into problems because majority of AKA members still do not see the need for a Chief as a requirement for uplifting Asantes in the U.S. They argue that these so-called Aburokyire Chiefs have the potential to undermine the real Chiefs in Ghana. Moreover, chieftaincy disputes among these so-called Chiefs rival their real counterparts in Ghana. The associations led by Chiefs are faced with rampant corruption and disunity.

Well, after failing to gain unity, the group that spearheaded the effort decided to bolt away and formed a new Asante association which they named United Asante Association (USA). As a result, Washington, DC, now has three Asante associations. The A-DC promptly enstooled a new Chief to replace its destooled Chief who had joined the new USA, as its de facto Chief.

In late May, the Tepahene arrived in New York, to preside over the ‘enstoolment' of the new Asantemanhene of New York, reportedly sent by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene to swear in the new Asantemanhene of New York City. The two Chiefs claiming to be the real Asantemanhene of Washington, DC, attended the ceremony in New York, where they and their entourage reportedly caused a messy scene and near riot.

As a result, the Tepahene journeyed to Washington, DC, to settle matter; sent there it is alleged by Otumfuo Osei Tutu. Asante Kotoko members were not invited to the meeting. Rather than solving the issue between the rival Chiefs and their group, the Tepahene was unfortunately blind-sided by some intra-Asante rivalry hangers-on to unleash an attack on AKA, whose president and members were masterfully not invited to the meeting. In the end, the Tepahene announced to the gathering (minus any AKA member), that he has disbanded the Asante Kotoko Association. He further ordered that the group could not use the name "Asante Kotoko"!!

Thus, rather than bringing peace to Asantedom in Washington, the Tepahene, reportedly acting on behalf of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene has created further confusion among the fractious group.

Meanwhile, the AKA is sitting tight, and waiting eagerly and contemptuously for Tepahene's emissaries who would come and inform them that their beloved Asante Kotoko Association has been "disbanded". According to reports, the AKA continues to function, and will hold its annual fundraising dance on Saturday June 14, as usual, at the posh Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. A live band called The Ozimzi Band (former Marriot Band of Ghana) will entertain attendees. Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem, Omanhene of Tepa Traditional Area will do well to stay clear of Washington, DC on that day!!!

Stay tuned.