Anona Akede royal family shows gratitude to Ahanta gods, ancestors

The Anona Akede royal family of Busua, within the Ahanta paramountcy in the Western Region, has shown gratitude to the divinities in the traditional area for their blessings, protection and bumper harvest this year.

Led by two fetish priestesses, Nana Onipa Ye and Maame Komfo Lydia, members of the royal family on Tuesday August 19 slaughtered fowls to their gods and the ancestors for their overwhelming support.

They also sprinkled mashed yam with boiled eggs to the divinities and poured libation on them. Otumfour Baidoo-Bonsoe II, the Ahantahene who was captured and beheaded by the Dutch in 1838, was also remembered.

The rituals were performed at the royal family house at Apowa and witnessed by the chiefs and elders from other traditional areas including Nana Obo-Atta Kukuamoah, divisional chief of Takoradi Amanful and Nana Gyaame Ainoo, the Ehyiem chief.

Apatwa
In an interview with Daily Statesman, Nana Potosi, the General Secretary of the Anona Akede royal family and Ebusuapanyin at Asakae said performance of such rituals is known in local parlance as 'Apatwa’ and takes place in August every year before the celebration of the Kundum festival.

He noted that traditionally, August is the first month of the year in Ahantaland and not January adding that ‘apatwa’ is also used to resolve disputes among family members.

He reiterated that after enjoying bumper harvests, blessings and protection from divinities throughout the year, it is incumbent on the royal family to show gratitude for overflow of more goodies next year.

"Mother Earth, which is also called asaase Efua, has for instance fed all of us throughout the year so it will be very wicked on our part if we fail to show our gratitude by giving some of her own food back to her”, he said.

Nana Potosi said thanks to protection by the divinities, no calamity or disaster had befallen Ahantaland this year and expressed optimism that they will continue guarding the land after the 'apatwa.'

He therefore urged the people to physically support the divinities by burying their differences and unite for their own good.

Medical treatment
The general-secretary did not mince words in stressing that Otumfour Baidoe-Bonsoe XV remains the Ahantahene despite his long absence from the traditional area.

According to him, Otumfour is undergoing medical treatment and until the physician comes out with his report to influence the royal family's next line of action, nobody can parade himself as Ahantahene.

Nana Potosi spoke of plans by the royal family to visit 37 Military Hospital in the next few weeks to inspect and pour more libation for the beheaded Otumfour Baidoe-Bonsoe II.

Also known as Nana Asuah Nyankeh, Otumfour Baidoe-Bonsoe II was captured and beheaded by the Dutch on July 25, 1838, with his head sent to Holland. The head was brought back to Ghana some years back and deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue for preservation.

Nana Potosi said members of the royal family visit the morgue at least twice a year to ensure that the head is in good shape and pour libation on their hero.

He said plans were underway to bring the head to Ahantaland for a befitting burial so that the way will be paved for burial of subsequent paramount chiefs in the area who have also 'gone to the village.'