The Chief of Dunkwa, Okofrobour Obeng Nuako III, has emphasised that Dunkwa-on-Offin is autonomous and owes “no allegiance” to any Paramout Chief.
He explained that the people of Dunkwa-on-Offin migrated from the Obuasi-Abedwease through Obuasi-Anyinam, where after the death Ofori Panin, Nana Obeng Nuako, led them to cross the Offin River to their present location.
Setting the record straight in an interview with The Chronicle, Okofrobour Obeng Nuako disclosed that the people of Denkyira, after their defeat in the Battle of Feyiase settled at Junkwa, the traditional headquarters of the Denkyira people.
The Dunkwahene further explained that in the 1940s, then Denkyirahene, Nana Owusu Bori II, visited Dunkwa, admired the landscape and requested the then Dunkwahene, Nana Kwaku Ofori, to give him a land for his abode.
He said it took a long time for Dunkwahene and his elders to consider the request by Nana Bori, in order to avoid litigation as to who is the custodian of Dunkwa Stool Lands before the current location of the Denkyirahene’s Palace at Abankesieso, a suburb of Dunkwa-on-Offin, was released to Nana Bori.
According to the Dunkwahene, Nana Bori lived in the palace of Nana Kwaku Ofori until his own Palace was completed in 1948.
The Dunkwahene also disclosed that Nana Kwaku Ofori and his elders named the area earmarked for the location of Nana Bori’s residence as “New Dunkwa”, which is collaborated by the site plan.
Nana Obeng Nuako revealed that the name of the suburb was changed to Abankesieso by Odeefuo Boa Amponsem IV (in reference to the capital of the state of Denkyira from the early 17th century to 1701, which was also known as Ntibanso).
As a result, the Dunkwahene has reiterated his position that he owes no allegiance to any Paramout Chief, indicating that though he swore to the Denkyirahene upon his enstoolment, it was out of courtesy for helping Regents to rule Dunkwa after the demise of Nana Kwaku Ofori.
He noted that his position explains why it is the Dunkwahene’s consent that is sought for and not that of the Denkyirahene when one wants to acquire a land in the Dunkwa enclave, citing the Ghana Railways acquiring their lands from the Dunkwahene.
“Denkyirahene’s signature on a document regarding Dunkwa Stool lands serve as a mere witness, nothing more or less”, the Dunkwahene emphasised.
Okofrobour Obeng Nuako III indicated that the people of Dunkwa are of the Agona Clan, noting the people of Dunkwa and Denkyiras have lived in peace and harmony over a century and that when Nana Owusu Bori abdicated as Denkyirahene, he walked barefooted from New Dunkwa to announce to Nana Kwaku Ofori, before proceeding to Abuakwa to announce his abdication.
Nana Obeng Nuako also disclosed that a year after his enstoolment, Denkyirahene purportedly declared him (Nana Nuako) destooled as Chief of Dunkwa, due to some remarks he made during chieftaincy dispute, which declaration was overturned by both the Central Regional High Court and Court of Appeal that the Denkyirahene has no “basis or authority” to destool the Dunkwahene.
Okofrobour Obeng Nuako III indicated that like Twifo Hemang and Twifo Atti-Morkwa, Dunkwa owes no allegiance to the Denkyirahene stressing that Dunkwa has left the Denkyira Traditional Council towards proposed attainment of its own paramountcy.
From Oswald P. Freiku, Dunkwa-on-Offin
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