A US-Based Journalist Of Kumawu Origin Is Happy About Kumawu Falling Into A State Of Dilapidation

I really find it hard to understand, if not with great disbelief, when any Kumawuman citizen expresses nonchalance attitude towards their own place of birth, let alone, unflinchingly supporting the very causes of her exploitative devastation. This shock becomes profoundly worrying when such a habit is depicted by journalists, the rich and the learned.

These are the people the vulnerable and poor in society normally look up to for succour and solace in trying periods such as the one currently faced by Kumawuman at the hands of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Kumawuhemaa Abenaa Serwaah Amponsah and Dr Yaw Sarfo. We expect the rich, the learned and those claiming to be professional journalists or well positioned in society to behave more responsibly; showing love for, and concerned about, the welfare of their compatriots, but not to rather be viciously callous. However, in Ghana, the principled order is never followed. The rich, the learned and the journalists, very often prefer to lord themselves over the poor.

Kumawuman, especially Kumawu, has experienced the worst neglect in her life under the traditional leadership of the late Barimah Asumadu Sakyi II and his sister, Nana Abena Serwaah Amponsah, the queen of Kumawu. More truthful information about their misdeeds has already been divulged to the public hence there being no need for their further reproduction or repetition here today.

I am completely not enthused by the recent foxy pretences by one Alexander Afriyie, born as Yaw Afriyie. He is a US-based Kumawu citizen and a journalist. To be precise, he is based in the US state of Virginia. As crafty as he is, clearly an enemy of progress as far as the development of Kumawuman goes, he shrouded his recent intent to expose me in his purported attempts to write my biography. I have already rebutted what I saw as his preposterous exhibition of youthful exuberance.

I decided to run a background check on this guy who is actually not known to me in person, but has turned out to be somehow related to me through my extended friendship, family or acquaintances with people close to him. Now, I have more information about him than he knows about himself.

For his safety and security, and my sense of maturity and understanding of two wrongs not making a right, coupled with how laws are stringently applied and respected in the civilized Western world, I shall not reveal his personal or work place phone numbers, his home address and that of the Ghanaian radio station he works at in Virginia, although I have them handy. What purpose will it serve the public if it was not probably meant to harm him in a way if I revealed such details? But do I want to jeopardize his life? No, that is the last thing I shall do. I know he will in future come back to apologise profusely accordingly, after realising his folly in what he did.

However, let me prove to him that I have indeed run a background check on him. This young man was born to the late Opanin Kwame Doffour and Madam Akosua Darkwaa normally called as Akosua Akwaa. Opanin Doffour was run over by a vehicle that killed him on 27 December 1996. He was riding his bicycle, returning from Madam Akosua Akwaa’s then newly acquired building plot at “Dome Abra” situated behind Mr Agyei’s (Twumbe) White House opposite Kumawu Anglican Primary School when he met his untimely or accidental death.

Your father’s younger brother was Mr Kwasi Addae alias Asuo, a GPRTU guard sadly killed in a lorry accident at Juaben some years after the demise of your own father. Auntie Grace aka Amma Ako, the Lotto agent, who also passed away was your aunt. These deaths were a heavy blow not only to Nana Afua Nseduah, your grandmother from daddy’s side, but also, to Mr Kwame Asare, the only remaining son or child of the late Madam Afua Nseduah. I knew all of them very well with Mr Asare being my senior by two or three years at both Kumawu Roman Catholic Primary School and Local Authority Middle School. Nana Nseduah was very nice to me so was Asuo. I will not go into details. Nonetheless, note that your father’s family came to Kumawu from Bekwai-Asuoho.

When one Madam Asibuo was coming from Bekwai-Asuoho, Madam Afua Nseduah, then an adolescent, was sent along to assist her as a house maid. Madam Asibuo was married to Nana Kwame Afram, Kumawuhene, and gave birth to Opanin Yaw Mensah, Opanin Kwasi Opoku etc. When they divorced, she got married to some man from Kumawu-Wonoo and bore him Mr Yaw Paul and Madam Adwoa Buruku of blessed memory.

On your mother’s side, your grandmother (Akua Kwaye) came from Juaso near Agogo in Asante Akyem. When she came to Kumawu, she affiliated with the Kumawu “Aduana abusua” (Aduana clan) called “Naduata”. Your grandmother was accepted to stay in Opanin Kwaa Kumi’s house opposite Kumawu Ahenfie at Apebiakyere.

Opanin Yaw Bannor, once a “cocoa sampler” at Kumawu is the only child of Madam Akua Kwaye. Opanin Yaw Bannor is now the Akwamuhene of Kumawu-Bodomase under the stool name of Nana Kwaku Doffour, after joining another Aduana Abusua in Bodomase.

Your real mother, Madam Akosua Akwaah, was an adopted child by Nana Akua Kwaye. Your mother is Madam Kwaye’s sister’s daughter. You can clarify or confirm this with your mum if you never knew your own true history until today. Your mother's sister is Madam Amma Adwubi and their brother was Kofi Dae, well known to me. He died in later part of 1970.

Going back to Alexander himself, he completed his secondary school education at Kumawu Tweneboah Koduah Senior High School, formerly Kumawu Tweneboah Koduah Secondary School, at around 1993. He proceeded to undertake Higher National Diploma (HND) course in catering at Kumasi Polytechnic. Still desirous to broaden his horizons, he enrolled at the Ghana Institute of Journalism in Accra to do J.A. in Communication Studies in journalism. He completed in 2008.

I would rather expect him to use his knowledge and intelligence if he has any, to defend the collective interests of Kumawuman, but not the selfish and greedy aspirations of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Kumawuhemaa and Dr Yaw Sarfo. He is obliged by the ethics of his profession to report nothing but the truth at all times. He cannot claim to be writing my biography when actually he has totally a different agenda hence exaggerating and twisting some facts.

Mr Alexander Afriyie should bear in mind that we are living in a global world where one can run but cannot hide due to advancement in technology. Moreover, his mother warned him not to poke his bloody nose into the ongoing Kumawu chieftaincy dispute.

The mother knew very well how ignorant her son is of the troubles that lay ahead in this chieftaincy issue hence her strong motherly advice in a form of warning to him. However, he decided to go against the mother, but not in a truthful way. He has chosen to lie. He will suffer the consequences of his action in due course unless he backtracks.

When a child desires to see something red, they are shown the leaf that is as red as crimson. I shall advise him never again to ignore her mother’s advice else he runs the risk of his life. I am protected by the armour of God because of the truth I say about the Kumawu chieftaincy case.

Today, I have spared Alexander the rod, but tomorrow or in the future, I shall crack the whip on his back for him to realise that “khaki no be leather”, as a Nigerian will say.

Rockson Adofo