THE Akuapem Traditional area is one of the nine traditional entities in the region.
The people in the mountainous area, which starts from the outskirts of Nsawam to Apirede and shares borders with Yilo Krobo, New Juaben and Shai, speak two main languages, Akuapem Twi and different brands of the Guan dialect.
But despite the differences in language and other cultural practices, the people have from time immemorial been united under one paramount chief. Akropong as the traditional headquarters where all the chiefs and adikrofo from the towns in the area such as Aburi, Larteh, Awukugua, Adukrom, Abonse, Apirede, Mampong, Amanokrom used to meet, particularly to celebrate the Odwira Festival, one of the most important traditional events in the region.
Such unity contributed significantly to the area’s development, especially, in education that catapulted the area far ahead of the other traditional areas.
However, due to certain circumstances, some of the chiefs in the afore-mentioned towns, especially the Guan-speaking group and Aburi decided to part ways with Akropong, thus dealing a big blow to the unity of the paramountcy.
The succession, which is now known as the 1994 Larteh Accord, was however, peaceful and the entire people of the area continued to live in peace except that some of the chiefs stopped converging at Akropong for the annual Odwira festival, which affected the bond of friendship and accelerated development of the area.
That, as expected, has had negative effects on the people, particularly, the development of the traditional area.
To bring the chiefs together, various governments have in the past made all the necessary efforts using the Henry Kissinger step-by-step approach to bring the traditional leaders in the paramountcy together but without success.
The latest to undertake a “diplomatic offensive” is the Association of Akuapem Citizens in the United States of America and Canada.
These Akuapem citizens in the Diaspora who have remained united on foreign lands, wondered why those at home could not do likewise. For that reason, last week they took up the initiative to re-unite the chiefs.
That was after some of the chiefs, namely Osahene Offei Kwasi Agyeman, the Krontihene, Otobuor Gyan Kwasi, Aburihene, Osabarima Ansah Sasraku, Mamfehene and Kyidomhene, Nana Osum Kwatia, Amanokromhene and Gyasehene together with the two political heads of Akuapem, Dr Osei-Bonsu Twum, the Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem South and Mr Opare Addo, the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, visited the US and Canada in that respect.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who has on various occasions expressed concern about the differences among the Akuapem chiefs and had tried to bring them together, led the delegation which also included the Principal Protocol Officer at the Regional Administration, Mr Joseph Odum, an indication of the government’s desire for the chiefs to unite to enhance the development of the area.
The trip was to bring together Akuapems resident in the USA and Canada to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the formation of Akuapem citizens in the two North American countries. The visit was also to raise funds to support development projects in Akuapem, especially for the improvement of facilities at the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital at Mampong.
Briefing the Eastern Regional Press Corps after the visit, Mr Ofosu Ampofo was happy that Akuapems abroad had shown concern about the issue.
He said it was gratifying that Akuapems, who were united on foreign lands far away from home, had taken the initiative to unite those in Ghana.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo said the willingness of the chiefs from Aburi, Akropong, Mamfe and Amonokrom to be on the trip to search for a solution for the re-unification of Akuapem was gratifying.
He expressed the hope that the road map to that effect would materialise without delay, adding “What we are all yearning for is Akupem re-unification for the total development of the area.”
According to the regional minister, the Chairman of the Association of Akuapem Citizens in the US and Canada, Nana Sasraku La Kumi, who is often referred to as the Omanhene of Akuapems in North America, had successfully united all Akuapems in the two countries who were all supporting the re-unification process.
He said the association was also raising funds and soliciting the support of a non-governmental organisation, Health and Education for Africa (HEAFA), to support an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project in Akuapem as well as other initiatives.
The re-unification process, if carried through as expected, would be the panacea for Akuapem development which all Akuapems are looking for.
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