Dormaa and Akwamu Traditional councils re-unite

From Michael Boateng

Two traditional councils, Dormaa in the Brong-Ahafo and Akwamu in the Eastern Region, have re-united as one people to ensure the rapid development in the two traditional areas.

This came to light when the Paramount Chief of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, paid a courtesy call at the Palace of the Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, on Thursday, September 20, 2012.

It was a colourful event, where the rich cultures of the two traditional areas were displayed to the admiration of patrons who thronged “Abrempedease”, the Dormaahene Palace, to welcome the Akwamu Chief.

The two Paramount Chiefs could not hide their excitement, as they jointly danced to “Fontomfrom” tunes provided by the chief drummers of the two traditional areas.

Nana Akosua Fema Dwaben, Queenmother of Dormaa, added more colour to the event as she danced majestically to ‘Kete’ tunes, which drew the attention of the gathering.

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu, giving a brief history of the two traditional areas, disclosed that Dormaa was part of the Akwamu until a succession dispute emanated between the twin brothers who were heirs to the vacant stool of the Akwamu Traditional area after the demise of the Paramount Chief, Ansa Saserakoo, 400 years ago.

To avoid bloodshed among the people of Akwamu, the younger twin brother decided to leave with his followers to another place for peace to prevail. On their way a Queen met them and asked why they were leaving.

After explaining to the said Queen the reason behind their departure, the said Queen said, “You truly love your state,” which literally in Akan means “Mo do mo man”, by this means the name “Dormaa” came into being till now.

The Dormaahene continued that in the 1960s, during the reign of Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Agyeman Badu I, the late Paramount chief of Dormaa, and the late Nana Kwafo Akoto II, Paramount Chief of the Akwamu Traditional area, it was agreed that the two should come together as one people.

He continued that in order to unite the two traditional areas, the two late chiefs suggested inter-ethnic marriage among the people of Akwamu and Dormaa as the fastest and effective way to bring the two back together.

Unfortunately, the development of the Akwamu Traditional Area has been retarded for the past 20 years, when the stool again became vacant, however, with the installation of Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III as the new Paramount Chief, the Dormaahene assured an effective collaboration between the two to ensure rapid development.

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo indicated that the Akwamu Traditional area would redeem its past historic image through effective collaboration between the two traditional councils.

He called on the members of the Akwamu Traditional Council to support Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III achieve his goal of developing the area in unity and fairness.

Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III thanked the Paramount Chief of Dormaa for the warm welcome and support given him since becoming the head of the Akwamu Traditional Council, giving him the assurance that he would do everything possible to sustain the blood relationship between the two traditional areas.

On elections, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto appealed to Ghanaians to consider themselves as one people, regardless of one’s political affiliation, therefore, insults and other provocative language and attitudes must be eschewed to ensure peaceful elections.

He said all should support in the development of the country, devoid of hatred and acrimony, as well as political vindictiveness.

Odeneho Kwafo Akoto announced that as a way to develop the Akwamu traditional area, this year’s Annual Home-Coming would be held on November 3, to raised funds for development, hence all natives and citizens of Akwamu should attend and support.

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