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Opinions of Friday, 25 February 2011

Columnist: Diabene, Aboma

Matters in the Juaben Royal Family.

A reaction to Nana Kwagyan Boateng’s post to do with matters in the Juaben Royal Family.

Certainly, is isn't the done thing for family matters to be discussed in the open. Since however, it has been deemed to be appropriate now---by way of Kwagyan Boateng's post, obviously at the behest of Juabenman authorities, then, its equally fitting and apt, to contribute my 2 cedis and set the record straight, where appropriate for once and for all. Let none be the first to cast the stone, for the deed has already been done. This a rebuttal and a post to set the record straight.


WHAT ARE THE CHILDREN OF NANA AKOSUA DOMTIE AFRAID OF? What is causing them endless nightmares? What is their dadwene?

This is the question the Principal Chiefs, Elders, Akyeame and other prominent citizens of Juabenman, i.e New Juaben and Juaben should formally ask Nana Otuo Serebour II, Nana Oti Boateng I, Nana Akosua Akyaamaa III ((By the way, All Children of Nana Akosua Domtie, aka, Nana Akyaamaa II)).

Yes, if they truly have the welfare of Juabenman at heart, then they should formally demand of aforementioned personalities, at AKUAMOA AHENFIE, why yes, why, for over 6, going on to 7 years now, there is still no ABUSUAPANIN FOR THE ENTIRE ADAAKWA YIADOM n OSEI HWERE/HWEDE3 FAMILY.

They should ask of them, why since the death of Nana Kwame Akrasi---ex Abusuapanyin(also a son of Nana Domtie) in 2004, to date, no successor has been found and proclaimed as the New Abusuapanyin.

This is the fundamental question, those concerned, ought to gather courage and demand of the Juabenhene, the New Juabenhene, the Juabenhemaa etc. Why, if they truly have the welfare of the family at heart, are they still unable to convene a family meeting, yes, a family meeting of the entire YIADOM AND HWEDIE FAMILY, ALL 3 HOUSES THEREOF, so the family members can exercise their democratic and customary right to elect one of their own as the ABUSUAPANIN.

Why should such a prominent Royal Family of Asante, be without an Abusuapanin for close to 7yrs? Is there any chaos or disorder in Juabenman(Juaben and New Juaben) for which an excuse can be found for not undertaking this very important exercise of choosing a new Abusuapanin?

No, absolutely not. By the Grace of God, Juabenman is at peace---long may it be so, so why this baffling delay?

What is it at all, the present Head Stool Occupants of the 4 Principal Stools of the YIADOM and HWEDIE Royal Family, so scared of? What is so nightmarish about proclaiming a new Abusuapanin after a due exercise of choice by members of the family? Is convening a Family meeting for a new Head of Family to be chosen so onerous or so taxing?

Anou has its Abusuapanin, so too, Kontire, Akwamu, Appeanyinase, Mmorontuo, Adwampong, Abooso, Nifa, Benkum, Apagya, Kyidom, Abesim and many other families in Juabenman. Why not then, the PRINCIPAL FAMILY OF JUABEN? This is what the Elders of Juabenman, ought to gather courage---you are not flouting any law or being disobedient/rebellious if you do so---and ask the Juabenhene, Juabenhemaa, New Juabenhene, why for all this while, there is still no Abusuapanin for the Yiadom and Hwedie Family.

Why? Is it because the prospect of doing so, will result in a new Abusuapanin, not descended from Nana Akosua Domtie, not even from MANSA Fie(House), which may potentially upset plans to keep the STOOLS in the line of descent of Nana Domtie? Aaane, makaa maka!! Sometimes, the truth ought to be blurted out.

You the Elders of Juaben, are doing Juaben a great disservice, by being mute all this while watching on for the present status quo, undoubtedly harmful in the long run, to be sustained as is the situation currently. WHERE HAS THE REMARKABLE COURAGE OF JUABENS, FLED TO?

Why complain, if as of now, having sat on this important and absolutely crucial exercise for all this while, finally, Nana Topen, decides enough is enough, and proceeds to do your work for you? Afterall, does not one lose one's rights, should he/she sleep on it for so long?

No more delaying tactics. Descendants of Nana Akosua Domtie((all due respect to her)), are not the only ones qualified or fit to sit on the STOOLS OF JUABENMAN. THE STOOLS ARE NO ONE'S PERSONAL PROPERTY.

Kindly, you the authorities concerned, do what is right and necessary, afterall, the fan wouldn't make a noise, if nothing comes in contact with it. Enough of this frustrating delaying tactics.

By the way, let me correct a misrepresentation and misimpression, that has been out there for a while. The Record Needs To Be Set Straight Once and For All:

The Yiadom and Hwedie Family of Juabenman/Dwabenman, an illustrious family in Asante, which has adopted the names of the first 2 Male Occupants of the Dwaben Stool, i.e after the Creation of Asante(Y3 boo ade3----the illustrious OSAGYEFUO ADAE ADAAKWA K)-YIADOM I--THE SAVIOR OF ASANTE, AND NANA OSEI HWERE/HWEDE3 I, A KING OF VALOUR, FIGHTER OF RENOWN---is a family which embodies or comprises of members of 3 ROYAL HOUSES OF JUABENMAN(Juaben and New Juaben).

These Royal Houses are in the order of seniority as follows: 1) MPAMPAMA---THE PIESIES OR FIRST-BORNS ((PROPER AND LEGITIMATE CUSTODIANS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ABUSUAKURUWA, OWING TO THEIR SENIORITY OF COURSE---A HOUSE WELL NOTED IN JUABEN FOR THEIR GALLANTRY AND VALOUR IN BATTLE.)) , 2) DUWAA---THE ADA-NTEM, OR SECOND BORNS, and 3) MANSA—THE KAKYIRES OR LAST-BORNS.
Kings and Queens of Juaben from the first two mentioned or elderly houses have reigned successfully and brought great glory to Juaben and Asanteman for long, way before the present ruling lineage hailing from the Mansa House, came to be on the Juaben Stools. No amount of ‘’Ahenfie koloolo’’, documents altering, destruction of files, sudden and unexplained disappearance of files, burial of Stools, refusal to bury members of these Houses in the Royal Mausoleum—the Barim or Ebaamu, refusal to accord them their due Royal rights will change that fact.

It is the entirety of members of these Houses, who comprise the YIADOM and HWEDIE Family of Dwabenman(Dwaben and New Dwaben), not a segment of, as has become the fashion of nowadays, for which publications have been made in perpetuation of that falsehood. It is not only members of the MANSA House, who are Yiadom and Hwedie, as some false publications in magazines, books, funeral invitation cards and other media seek to portray.

Let me state also emphatically, correcting misrepresentations once more, that Nana Ama Boatemaa((born in the 1850s due respect to her)) is not the founding ancestress of the YIADOM and HWEDIE family or the Dwaben Royal Family for that matter. That misimpression/misrepresentation must seize. Dwaben or the Royal Family thereof, did not come into existence in the 1850s. Everyone of elementary Asante History Knowledge know that Dwaben and its formidable Royal Family was already in existence and fully fledged as a State, even way before Asante became Asante.

How then, a perpetuation of such a blatant falsehood? How come then, someone born in the 1850s is said to be the ancestress of the Juaben Royal Lineage or the Yiadom and Hwedie Family? How preposterous and contemptuous.

The entertaining of such falsehoods, would not augur well for peace in Dwabenman in the long run.

That Nana Ama Boatemaa was an ancestress of the present ruling lineage---the Mansa lineage or House in Juabenman, doesn't mean, or amount to her, being the ancestress of the entire Royal Family of Juabenman.Its about time such falsehood was emphatically nipped in the bud!!!

Nana Kwame Akrasi, when he was alive, was the common and only one Abusuapanin of all these 3 Royal Houses, itself a confirmation of what I've stated as to the true make up of the Yiadom and Hwedie Family.

Time it is now, for the correct thing to be done. Too long, have there been no Abusuapanin of the Royal Family of Juabenman.

To those concerned, I need not say, tarry no more. No more delaying tactics. The YIADOM AND HWEDIE STOOLS OF JUABEN/NEW JUABEN, AND THEIR QUEENSHIP STOOLS, are not the personal properties of anyone of the Royal Family.

Everyone of the family, came to meet those stools. Let the right thing be done.
For there to be true peace in the family and in Juabenman at large, not the sort of artificial peace which threatens to erupt and indeed does so periodically, especially in New Juaben, it behoves all ye, the Elders of Juabenman, such as your good self, Nana Kwagyan Boateng and your senior colleagues, to impress upon Daasebre Oti Boateng, his brother Nana Otuo Serebour, Nana Akyaamaa III, Nana Daani II, to all see to it that the right thing in the family is done once and for all. Dragging on this matter of installing a new Abusuapanin of the entire Yiadom and Hwedie family, because of a harboured fear, shall definitely undo the peace that Juabenman is enjoying.
Impress upon them too, the need to address swiftly, the wrong and slight that has been done Nana Topen and his immediate family, i.e for true peace to reign in their own House. Hmmm, how the Law of Karma works. Surely, whatever is sown, shall surely be reaped!!
For there to be true peace, the onus is on you the Elders of Juaben, to impress upon these personalities the great need to repair relations with members of their elderly sibling Houses, Mpampama and Duwaa, undo the damage and great injury, present and past members—especially, of the Mansa House have done/caused, so once again, the formidable might, power and glory of Juabenman, will be ours in this generation once more. Had our forebears been that divided and disunited, Juaben would never have ascended to and commandered the great heights, glory and acclaim it attained in times gone by. Had they been disunited, Juaben wouldn’t have been able to do for Asanteman, the pivotal contributions it made, which ensured the survival and sustenance of Asanteman, to this very day.
Enough is enough. We’ve had it!! Six to Seven years without an Abusuapanin of the Yiadom and Hwedie Family, is an almost unforgivable smear on the Abusua. Enough of the machinations---time to convene a meeting of all the Houses for a choice of an Abusuapanin to be made.

As we say in Twi: S3 biribi ak> ka papa a, erennye ger3d3.