A high delegation from the Christian Service University led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Kofi Afrane joined Nananom to commemorate the return of Akyamfour Asafo Boakye I from Seychelles Island exactly 100 years ago. The event also coincided with the last Awukudae in 2024 which is a significant traditional event for the Chiefs and people of Asafo and the Akwamu Divisional Council of Kumasi.
Background
As part of the move to build strategic partnerships beyond the CSU @ 50 anniversary celebrations, the University is reaching out to political, traditional and corporate institutions. It will be recalled that during the grand durbar of the CSU @50 anniversary celebrations, His Royal Majesty, Otumfour Osei Tutu II was represented by the Chief of Asafo who doubles as the Head of the Akwamu Divisional Council, Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu. During his commemorative speech, Akyamfour Agyemang-Bonsu extended an olive branch of friendship and partnership to CSU to deepen the relationship between Asafo and the University. It is against this background that CSU responded to the call and honoured the invitation to participate in the centennial commemoration of the return of Akyamfour Asafo Boakye I from Seychelles Island at Asafo Kumasi on Wednesday November 20, 2024.
Brief Historical Overview
Born in 1829, Asafo Boakye I became the eleventh Asafohene and Akwamuhene of Asante. History beckons that he was one of the illustrious matrilineal grandsons of Asafo Awere and Kwadwo Betia and ruled from 1869 to 1896. His links to Manhyia Effikesiem is well established as he was a biological son of Fredua Agyemang (who later became Nana Kwaku Duah I, Asantehene) and he also married the eldest daughter of Nana Afua Kobi (Late Asantehemaa) by name Obaapanin Akua Afriyie.
Notably, Akyamfour Asafo Boakye I played a significant role in the political administration of Asante in the early 19th century when he served as the Akwamuhene and Kumasihene concurrently from 1883-1888. It will be recalled that this was an episodic period in history when the British sought to “weaken” and if possible, exterminate Kumasi from the annals of history. To a greater extent, the British were successful in weakening the Asante State. The offshoot of this destabilization agenda by the British led to the capturing of Asafo Boakye, Akwamuhene and the then Asantehene, Prempeh I and other chiefs to Seychelles Island in 1900. Akyamfour Asafo Boakye I returned with Prempeh I to Kumasi on 12th November, 1924 at the age of 95. The rest is history.
Presentation by CSU
The CSU delegation made three significant presentations to the Asafohene at the durbar. First, the University presented a stupendous citation that characterised the achievements of the current Asafohene including his commitment to promoting education in his traditional areas of authority through provision of infrastructure, which resonate with the CSU transformational agenda; second, CSU presented a colourful framed picture which was taken during the CSU @ 50 grand durbar; and third, CSU pledged to offer undisclosed number of yearly scholarships to the indigenes of Asafo to be engineered through the Akwamu Divisional Council to promote access to university education in Ghana. The Asafohene expressed his profound appreciation to the CSU delegation and promised to work closer with the institution in the ensuing years.
As expected, there were scintillating cultural displays from Asante and Nzema cultural groups at the durbar which was attended by paramount chiefs and sub chiefs of the Akwamu Divisional Council, the Clergy and other religious leaders, political actors, and the indigenes of Asafo.
CSU joins the entire Asanteman to wish Akyamfour Asafo Boakye I, mo ne yͻ (well done).
Story By
Rev. Justice Boffah Pokumensah
Director, IAO
