ASANTE JUABEN AND NEW JUABEN (Koforidua) RELATION.

 1. What an inaccurate and grossly distorted historical account!!!

Kokofu cannot be included in the Amantuo Num as it is the ancestral hometown of the Asantehene and from the time of Osei Tutu I, Kokofu was annexed/attached to Kumase. Hence the Asantehene can exercise some rights verging on absolutism to do with that state, which he cannot lawfully do with the other states of the amantuo num.

The Amantuo(big founding states) Num of Asante then, which formed the union at Amoafo Bogyawe were Dwaben (Juaben), Kwaman(Kumase), Mampon, Asumegya and Aduaben (Seat of the Adontenhene of Kumase and Asante at large....now subsumed under the Kumase state). After the Denkyira war, Kumawu and Nsuta was added, i.e accorded all the rights of an Amantuo State.

Recall Adontenhene Nkwantabisa's message of congratulations to the Asantehene Osei Tutu II, upon his assumption to the throne( Kumasi, April 26 (1999), GNA – 

“Nana Agyeman Nkwantabisa III, Adontenhene of Asante, today sent a congratulatory message to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on the occasion of his installation as the new Asantehene. In a statement issued in Kumasi, Nana Nkwantabisa wished Otumfuo Osei Tutu well in all his endeavours and expressed the hope that his reign as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool would be guided by "historical brotherly cooperation which existed between the five Divisions of the Asante nation".)...Which five divisions of Asante was he alluding to?  It were the five I had been mentioning above (Kumasi, Mampong, Juaben, Asumegya and Aduaben)”.

Nana Prempeh II also gave the Amantuo Num breakdown as:Kumasi,Mampong,Asumegya,Juaben and Aduaben. Source:African Affairs,Royal Africa Society. Likewise did Captain Rattray mention these five states as Amantuo Num in his book "Ashanti law and constitution".

Note also, Bekwai, is primarily an extension of Dwaben as they are of the same blood family and only separated themselves due to a succession dispute to the Dwaben Stool.

Kumawu then, an important state with a size comparable with those of the Amantuo num, if not more in some instances of comparison, was then not present at the meeting. Kumawu was far removed from the Denkyera menace.It came into play, when its Ruler Tweneboa Kodua a powerful ruler in his own right, sacrificed himself for Asanteman at Feyiase. For this, it was elevated to the level of the Amantuo Num.

Kokofu once more, before the corruption of Asante cultural values these days, was not ranked as highly as that of the Rulers of the Amantuo Num states. He couldn't have as much regalia and other rights as that of the other Amantuo num Rulers. Do remember also, the Asantehene has direct appointive and dismissive rights over the Ruler of Kokofu and his elders.It isn't so, in the other Amantuo num states.

The Offinsohene is just a caretaker (Ohwesofuo) for lands of the Golden Stool.Those former Dormaa lands were given to him to watch over them on behalf of the Golden Stool, even so, in King Opoku Ware I's time, he was stripped of that responsibility when Offinso rebelled. Right now, he's been granted that duty again.The real Offinso lands, are not that extensive.

Offinso and Ejisu, were only elevated to paramountcy during the reign of Nana Agyeman Prempeh I. Before, they were just mere Kumasi chiefs, not chiefs of any importance in Asante. Offinso was a little little town, even a village.The present town of Offinso you see, was formed out of one of the recent Offinso chiefs persuading the chiefs of 13 other separate communities, to all come together to form one town. Even then, still, Offinso isn't that so large a town. The real lands of Offinso, are those he purchased from the Chief of Dumanafo, when he arrived there from Adanse. Its a small parcel of land.

The rest of the so-called Offinso lands, I.e bordering on Bomaa, Techimantia, Techiman, I.e from Sabronum, Akomadan, Nkenkaaso, Anyinasuso, and so on, are all in truth, subjects of Kumasi chiefs such as the Dadiesoabahene(Akomadan), Manwerehene and so many others. Those areas were all hunting grounds of the Asantehene, who employed the Kumasi chiefs to do their work.

Offinso alone was never so powerful to have been able to overcome Dormaa on its own. Go through any reputable book on Asante History. Where do you see, Offinso mentioned as an important state in Asante? 

You'll hear of and read of, Dwaben, Kumase, Mampon, Kumawu, Nsuta, Bekwai, Asumegya to some extent, Kokofu. Do you ever hear of names such as Offinso and even Edweso? If we take a look at Rattray's book. Offinso and Edweso are very close to Kumase, why didn't he visit those places and record their histories, but yet, he was able to go as far away as Bekwai, Nsuta, Kumawu and Mampon?

The title Otumfuo was not used by any Asantehene until the time of Asantehene Prempeh 2. This title was rather used by the Akwamu rulers (Twifo-Heman) as early as the 15th century.

2.  It was Dwabenhene, Nana Adakwa Yiadom declaring war on Denkyera by killing the messenger of Denkyera. It was Dwaben capturing Ntim Gyakari and taking him to Kumase for trial. In the Denkyera war Osei Tutu did not even participate. It was Nana Dwabenhene right to keep the war booty.

During the war at Akatamanso the enemy captured the Golden Stool. After hours of fighting one could barely see anything because of the smoke from the gun powder. The Asantehene Osei Yaw Akoto was seriously wounded and asked his Gyaasehene to take him home. So he quietly left  the battlefield being accompanied by his Gyaasehene. The Gyaasehene even wanted commit suicide for this disgraceful act. As the fight went on the Dwabenhene found out that his junior brother the Asantehene had left the battlefield. He then teamed up with the Kontanasehene to recapture the Golden Stool. The Kontanasehene Nana Antwi Panin received 39 bullet wounds but survived the ordeal earning him the title " Ogyeabuo" i.e. he who takes bullets. When the Dwabenhene presented the Golden Stool to the Asantehene he was accused of having removed some of it's ornaments, angrily he told the Asantehene to search for it from where he ran away from and did not set foot on Kumase for a year. This was the beginning of the Dwaben-Kumase   conflict. Kumase used several excuses to attack Dwaben despite the fact that Okomfo Anokye made these two states make a pact never to fight each other. Kumase could not enter Dwaben as they were driven back, the Kumase war captains even blew themselves uphowever when Dwaben ran out of ammunition they were betrayed by some states including one of their own people supplying Kumase with ammunition therefore they had to leave Dwaben. Although Kontanase had vowed to fight Kumase i.e they killed Kumase messenger and received ammunition from Dwaben. However, when the war came on they refused to participate. Eventually Dwaben fled to Kyebi. Following a number of negotiations it was only during the reign of Dwabenhemaa Nana Ama Serwaa also acting as Dwabenhene leading them back in 1843. However there was even a more civil war between Dwaben and Kumase during the reign of Asantehene Nana Osei Bonsu. How can Asantehene declare war for executing a slave on Dwaben lands (outside of its jurisdiction)? My ancestess founder of Bonkron near Nsuta killed 100 slaves in one incident. My ancestresses destroyed entire villages/towns in the present Ejisu area. Hence, the name Adako Jachie (Adako Gyaakye) stop catching (I.e catching other villages/towns).

It is also not for the Asantehene to decide who occupied the Nsuta stool. How can a nephew decide for his uncle? Likewise Kwaaman/Kumase state is not the head of the Adako-Oyoko clan and comes nowhere close to Nsuta and Dwaben.

3. There is the general misconception, that the Asantehene (all due respect to him) is a despotic leader with absolute powers. Anyone claiming so is ignorant of the unique constitutional arrangements. The Amantuo num (5 big founding states i.e. Dwaben, Mampon, Aduaben, Asumegya and Kwaaman/Kumase) are equal in rank. Later Kumawu and Nsuta were accorded the status of an Amantuo num state. However, they had been present from the very beginning. Neither is the Asantehene the head of the rulng Adako-Oyoko clan. Adakohene and Oyokohene of Asante is Nsutahene and Dwabenhene respectively. Frankly speaking even the Kumase-Oyokohene (head of Kumase-Oyoko royal family) acts on behalf of the Dwabenhene. Initially Kwaaman (Kumase) had also not been that big. Most of the other states were larger in size. Many of these places today being under Kumase like Kaase, Sarfo, Adwumakase, Aseremaso, Dekyemso, Boakurom, Kono were all under Nsuta. Places like Adako-Gyaakye (Adako-Jachie) and Ayeduase are still under Nsuta. In fact Aduaben (now submerged under Kumase) as already stated above is one of the original amantuo num and doubles as Aduabenhene and Kumase-Adontenhene. It were states like Dwaben,Nsuta and Mampon as well as Aduana rulers in Kwaaman in particular Ohwim enabling Osei Tutu to establish himself in Kumase. Dont you know, before Osei Tutu was even asked to become Kwaamanhene, the Kwaaman stool had been offered to his customary uncle (Nsutahene) who had rejected the stool.

Now let us have a look at some literature:

"Osei Kwame became Asantehne in 1777 amidst great conflict. As he secured his positon, he began  to move his adherents into positions of power, a move which his opponents perceived as an attempt by his majesty to wield more power than he was constitutionally allowed. As first amongst equals in the Asante political structure, he could not haven taken such action without approval from the ahenfo and Nsafohene." (Dupuis)

"The initial military dependence of Osei Tutu on his fellow Oyoko clan leaders was enshrined in the constitution by making the Asantehene first amongst equals. Hence, the amantoo had rights of their own. These included the autonomous ability to collect taxes, form armies, conduct trade, and control lands. The king in turn, could not intervene in the internal affairs of an Amantoo. The basis of mutual obligation and equality underlying the institutional interactions of the Asantehene and the Amantoo established a not insignificant restraint on the autority of the head of state."( The early state in African perspective by Naomi Chazan et al.).

McCaskie records a case in Kumase in 1871:

"The Oheneba Owusu Ntobi, a son of the Asantehene........

charged with capital offence of committing incest.......

The Asantehene Kofi Kakari argued for a sentence on internal exile rather than death...it is known that the court adamantly opposed the Asantehene, refused to countenance his recommendation and urged execution on the ground that it was the penalty stringently mandated and prescribed for such cases.

"Then Osei Tutu said to the Juabenhene, "You are the Head of the Oyoko Lineage, give me someone in your place, so when you go to your Capital, he will help me look after Kumasi. So the Juabenhene appointed Kwapon-Di-Awuo and he was Oyokohene.(I.e Oyokohene of Kumase)." (Busia, 1951).

"King Tutu told to Adarkwar Yiadom the King of Juabin to be the head in commander of the Yukus and Dakus. The Yukus are Kokofu, Bekwi, Insutar(Nsuta), Abohin(i.e Abohyen, in this group, comes the Stool of the Asantehene and his lineage), Atutuo, Bremand (i.e Oyoko Bremang), Contanasi(i.e Kuntenase), Akokofer(Akokofe) and Ajuarsi(Adwaase...nr KNUST)." (The history of Ashanti Kings by Asantehene Nana Agyeman Prempeh I.).

"Osei Tutu distinguished the spirit of aristocratic ranks by different insignia and emblems according to the levels of clan family positions and dignitaries of the different chiefs. Chiefs falling into the first category were ranked almost on the same level with the King. They were permitted to make Stools, but the fashion and worth in gold should not outbid that of the King. Each of the chiefs in the first category could make royal sandals ornamented with gold that befitted his pockets. Their State umbrellas could be large but not larger than that of the King, and on top of their umbrellas they could use decorated carved Golden Stool. they were the only chiefs who were permitted to own several drums and large troops of horn-blowers." (Asirifi-Danquah, 2007, the struggle between two great queens....).

Another misconception is that the Sikadwa Kofi or Golden Stool of Asante can only be occupied by Kumase/Kokofu Oyoko royals. However, this is a national and not a state stool. Dont you know, when Osei Tutu died, his uncle Nana Daako of Nsuta was supposed to succeed him, but was killed by partisans of Opoku Ware 1 leading to the Adako-Oyoko civil war between 1717-1720?

New Dwabenhene must not join Asanteman for their ungratfulness. Kumase betrayed the very people enabling them to become so powerful. They attacked and looted Mampon palace despite guaranteeing for Mampon safety. They threatened their uncles i.e Adako-Oyoko (Nsuta) with summary execution to hold onto power. They demanded about 8 towns in exchange for helping the then Nsutahemaa during a coup detat at Nsuta and many more such instances. If they had not violated Asante constitutional arrangements the British would not have been able to enter Kumase.

4. Nsutahene, Nana Yaw Sekyere and Dwabenhene, Nana Kwasi Boaten role in the Akatamanso war. It is clear Asantehene Osei Yaw Akoto would not have been enstooled without support of the then Nsutahene but betrayed him in times of need. Likewise betraying Dwabenhene who with the support of the Kontanasehene had retrieved the Golden Stool from the enemy forces. As well as the rebellion of the Nkonya and Awusuta villages in the present day Volta region then being subjects to Nsuta.

5. Nana Ohen Konkron Nana Ohen Konkron The Bekwaehene was trying throughout late 1886 to bolster his position and increase his prestige by undertaking the conduct of Asante's diplomatic relations with the British govt. In Nov, 1886 he underscored his new role by asserting to Gov. Brandford Griffith: " I consider myself now to be one of the British Officials(sic) the same as our late King Kweku Duah I dealt with Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland".

This was presumption which neither the Asantehemaa nor the Saamanhene could tolerate, although the 2 differed in their approaches to its solution. Asantehemaa Yaa Akyaa ( uterine mother of Prempeh I ) .planned and schemed to gradually replace Bekwae's leadership with that of the............Small And Emerging States of Ejisu(Edweso) and Offinso. No real threat could be expected from these states. Edweso and Offinso were not only small in 1886, but they also belonged to a different matriclan, Asona, and were not founding members of the Asante Union like Bekwae which shared that honour and the same clanship, Oyoko, with Kumase. ))...Courtesy of Dr Agnes Akosua Aidoo

((1. Clearly we now see why Nana Yaa Akyaa/some Kumasi Officials, were so concerned about Bekwae's leadership, and if at all, grudgingly rewarded, in a measure, inversely proportional to its considerable efforts. It is obvious, Nana Yaa Akyaa feared the transfer of Asante national power, to an already powerful state and more importantly, and Oyoko state, such as Bekwae ( a state with vast expanse of lands ) then. This, was in the mould of the fear exhibited by Nana Kwadu Yiadom, when the Asantehene Osei Kwame, took up residence in Dwaben in early 1800 or so, with most of his court officials and regalia.

2. This leads one to ask the inevitable questions:

Would Offinso have been described as small in 1886, if indeed, as they claim, King Osei Tutu I had handed them, that vast expanse of land in 1700s?

Would Ohemaa Yaa Akyaa, have promoted them, if indeed Offinso was a state of such a physical size, as of now, then? For as is well known, in Asante, all the major states, which wielded considerable influence/power, since the inception of Asanteman from 1700 or so, such as Mampon, Dwaben, , Bekwae, Asumegya, Kumawu, and later Kokufu and Nsuta, Kumase-states which were all regarded as premier---had considerable land estates, which in turn, naturally, gave rise to considerable populations, resources and hence power. For the power of the states then, had a direct correlation with numerical strength.

When subjected to a critical scrutiny, even the claim of Offinso to have celebrated Mmoaninko ( and it was held under a different name then, if at all celebrated, as the Offinso's acknowledge ) is in doubt. For prior to its elevation, directly under the Asantehene wings, and as such, couldn't celebrate its own festival. It will be like, say, the Bantamahene, deciding to celebrate his own festival, in his own right....is that allowed, or will it be tolerated? At best, the only celebration will have been the Adae, 6 weekly festivals. Only, after its elevation, was Offinso and Ejisu, allowed to celebrate their own Odwira in their own right. That is the order in Asante. Premier states like Mampon, Kumawu, Juaben, Bekwae etc have always performed their own Odwira/Apafram festivals, in their own right, right from the inception of Asanteman.

One will ask, the question, granted that Offinso, had been given the right to celebrate its own festival from Osei Tutu I's time, why the sudden name change of that festival to Mmoaninko in recent times only. Why was if indeed, such a momentous transfer of land took place, one would have thought, that such an eventful event, would have been acknowledged by way of a name of a festival alluding to it, right from the alleged grant of lands by Osei Tutu I. But as we see, it isn't so, the Mmoaninko name tag, was only adopted in the period from 1920s to hence. Even 1920, I suspect will be too far back.

Certainly, had Offinso been granted such huge lands, it would have no doubt, from King Osei Tutu I's time, have been powerful, and wealthy in its own right. For access to a vast estate of land, is commensurate with the wealth of a state. But was this the situation of Offinso? Why for instance, if this were true, did it not receive a mention in the say, the historical books written by say, Rattray, and even before, many other foreign scholars? Certainly, allusions to the Mampon, Bekwai, Kumawu, Nsuta, Dwaben, appear so often in historical texts on Asante, apart from Kumase. Why, because of their considerable wealth and influence then. Why not the same for Offinso then? If it was in possession of vast lands, as it is alleged, it would have undoubtedly have had so much influence/wealth/power...but the curious absence of any reference to it, in those historical texts, makes such a claim highly suspicious.

Again, apart from Kumase, the town sizes of Bekwai, Kumawu, Dwaben and Mampon was immense, both in physical size and population resident therein. But when we examine the case of Offinso, this characteristic of Asante states in possession of immense lands/peoples/wealth, again, fails.

For prior to say, 1946, Offinso was a very small town, at best, a big village. The subsequent plan of moving Offinso from its pre-existing site to a new site, along with a merger, of it, with 24 surrounding villages, at the new site, is what accounts for its present day size.

6.  Nana Ohen Konkron I for one, don't know, which Wiafe Akenten I ( Offinsohene ), Nana Osei Tutu I, allegedly granted those vast lands, unless, perhaps, of course, the said Wiafe Akenten I, resurrected....when one considers, how Offinso came to be incorporated into Asante, in Osei Tutu I's time, and who was on the Offinso stool then.

Akomadan, for instance, belonged to the Bonohene, Ameyaw. Asante, clashed with Bono, in Opoku Ware I's period, i.e after the reign of Osei Tutu I. Afterwards, although Bono was allowed to re-establish itself with Takyiman (Techiman) as its new capital, ( previous was Bono Manso ), it lost many lands to Asante...as was the practice in those days, for victors. So then, one will ask, how did Akomadan, which Offinso claims to have been given him by Osei Tutu I, come into Offinso's hands. Osei Tutu I, couldn't have given away, what belonged to another King, albeit, a powerful one, such as the Bonohene, Ameyaw then....more so, when there's no record of any conflict between Asante and Bono, in Osei Tutu I's reign? 

Lastly, if indeed King Osei Tutu I, had granted those lands, as alleged by Offinso, there would not have arisen the claims of certain Kumase stools such as Dadiesoaba and many others to so-called Offinso lands such as Afrancho, Akomadan, Nkenkaasu and many others. Afrancho and Akomadan, for instance, were known to be hunting grounds of the Asantehene's elephant hunters( Asono---bommofuo). Those hunters never sent any part of the animal, to the Offinsohene. Instead, those were sent straight on to Kumase, and hence the Asantehene...thus emphasizing his outright ownership of those lands.

Compare that to say, Drobonso, situate on Kumawu stool lands. The people of Drobonso, are owe a direct allegiance to the Asantehene, through the Manwerehene. They are of Kumase origin. The Kumase hunters, of Drobonso, upon the capture of an animal, had to send a hind leg to the Kumawuhene in the first instance, before onward transmission of the rest of the carcass to Kumase.Why? This is the customary manner of acknowledgement of ownership of land, Drobonso, being situate upon Kumawu lands.

Most of the people of Akomadan, Afrancho, Nkenkaasu and so many others were of Kumase origin. To this day, the Kumase stools of Dadiesoaba, and many others, maintain their claims to the said lands. Would this have been so, if Osei Tutu I, had given those lands to the Offinsohene then?

It is well known, that the absence of King Prempeh I, led to a general disorder in Asante, which resulted in many chiefs, making wild claims to land, which upon a critical scrutiny, are found to be full of potholes, at best, and at worst, outright lies.

Dr Agnes Akosua Aidoo's well researched thesis, which was written after an exhaustive fieldwork in Asante, during which she had access to the foremost authorities of Asante---men/women of vast knowledge of Asante history/practice---was published in the late 1960s to early 197Os or so.

7. First of all, the title Otumfuo was not used by any Asantehene until Prempeh 2. Otumfuo is the title of Akwamu rulers i.e Twifo-Heman dating back as far as 14th century. Secondly, Mampon is not next to Asantehene! 

Mampon only acts on behalf of the Asantehene in his capacity as Nwisiahene the title (Odi Nwisiahene I.e he who reigns over orphans) Mampon earned when taking over position of Asantehene when Osei Tutu died on battlefield. The Mampon stool is silver stool of Mampon not silver stool of Asante. Nsuta/Dwaben are the head of the ruling clan of Asante I.e Adako-Oyoko clan. Hence they arrive last being seated next to Asantehemaa/Asantehene respectively. Nsutas are uncle's of the Kumase/Kokofu royals by blood relationship. They descend from Ikurru she had two daughters namely Yita and Antwiwaa Nyame. Yita succeeded her that is the ancestress of Nsuta while Kumase/Kokofu descend from Antwiwaa Nyame. Don't you know before the Kwaaman (Kumase) stool was offered to Osei Tutu they asked Nsutahene to come for it but he rejected? Don't you know Nana Abena Pokuaa of Nsuta ruled along side Obiri Yeboah  and Osei Tutu as Kwaamanhemaa/Kumasehemaa? Don't you know it was her brother Nana Daako, who was supposed to succeed Osei Tutu ? Don't you know so many areas within Kumase like Dekyemso, Sarfo, Adwumakase, Kono, Aseremaso, Domakwae, Boakurom, Kaase and many others are in truth Nsuta towns? Adako Jachie and Ayeduase are still under Nsuta. Don't you know the proverb Nsutafuo mee a Mamponfuo ho adwo won? Dont you know Osei Tutu asked Dwabenhene to give him someone when he was going back to his capital since he is the head of the Oyoko clan, hence the Oyokohenene of Kumase i.e head of Kumase Oyoko royal family acts on behalf of Dwabenhene. Frankly speaking Mampon is not a royal of Asante as he is of the Bretuo clan. Yes Mampon is a premier state of high rank but cannot be compared to Dwaben, Nsuta, Bekwai. Do you know how a Dwabenhene/Nsutahene greets an Asantehene ? With his headgear on and without debarring their shoulder. Frankly speaking, in the olden days no one could even match the wealth of Nsuta I.e Aburaso/Bonkron. Nsuta (Aburaso) share borders with Mampon (i.e lower Mampon). Their land stretches as far as Nkawie/Bibiani road and across various regions like Ahafo, Northern etc.