The Issue of the Anlo Awoamefia Stool Father, Stool Secretary and Stool Council

Stool

We are gradually ushering in the year 2010. Luckily for the citizens of Anlo State, there has been relative peace in Anloland. The citizens of Anlo truly deserve this peace and tranquility. We would like to express our appreciation and thanks to the dedicated few who sacrificed their time and resources in achieving this relative peace. We are also using this opportunity to wish the good citizens, honourable chiefs and elders of Anlo State, a Happy and Prosperous New Year! We love you, the HONOURABLE chiefs of Anlo! It is our fervent prayer that Mawu Sogbolisa and our Ancestors will continue to direct the paths of the leaders of the three lineages of the Adzorvia Clan to deliver on giving us an Awoamefia in the year 2010.

The peace and calm that currently exits in Anloga in particular, can be sustained if other pertinent issues are brought out to the open, thoroughly discussed and solutions found for them. Many issues have been and continued to be discussed on the Anlo Awoamefia issue on several forums, most of which are culturally educative, informative and honourable. We owe the contributors to these discussions bountiful of gratitude and appreciation. Most of the time, some of the contributors, especially those in the Diaspora appear to have very limited and unreliable resources of information when it comes to these issues. Ideally, all of us should be sourcing such types of culturally sensitive information from the elders among us. These elders are the reservoirs of knowledge as it relates to our traditional beliefs, values and cultural heritage. If a historian is an expert in writing “his story” history, then it is appropriate for our elders to serve as “ourstory” teachers. Usually, information supplied by these knowledgeable elders is relevant and adequate enough for us to arrive at conclusions and subsequently make informed decisions.

One set of misinformation being circulated in the State of Anlo concerns the custodianship of the revered Anlo Awoamezi, a mysterious black stool that is neither “ehozi” nor “awazi”. The Awoamezi (Anlo Paramount Stool) is more than just a symbol of authority or a unifying force; it is the very embodiment of the soul, spirit and culture of Anlo land, the emotions of war and peace, a link with our glorious past, a reminder of our present imperfections and our hope for a better tomorrow. This sacred stool can neither be sold nor bought through pay offs, bribes and buyouts for it is priceless. The Awoamezi is never sat on. On the enstoolment of a new Awoamefia, he is just lowered as if to sit on it and raised up three times by the substantive heads or leaders of the Amlade (and Loafe) Clans of Anlo.

Just over two years ago (Saturday December 01, 2007 4:54 PM), some questions were posed on Anlosusutialawo, Eweland and CEANA fora. These questions were addressed to the members of both the Adzorvia and Bate Clans of Anlo. Only one prominent and well-connected royal member of the Bate Clan responded to some of the questions. The questions that were posed include but are not limited to the following:

• Do we really have an Awoamefia Stool Father, Stool Secretary and Stool Council in the State of Anlo or just a stool caretaker or custodian?

• If we have an Awoamefia Stool Father and Stool Secretary, are these the same personnel for both the Adzorviawo and the Bateawo?

• If it is true that only members of the Agboada and Sadika families are the Stool Fathers, Stool Secretaries and form the Stool Council for the Adzorvia Clan, then which family or families are the Stool Fathers, Stool Secretaries and are therefore members of the Stool Council for the Bateawo?

• If it is true that we have Awoamefia Stool Fathers and Stool Secretaries, then who were the Stool Fathers and Stool Secretaries under the past Awoamefiawo [Torgbi Sri 1, the first Awoamefia of Anlo @ 1490 - 1557 (67 years reign) through to Torgbi Amedor Kpegla, the thirteenth Awoamefia of Anlo @ 1878 - January 22, 1906 (57 years reign)]?

Our purpose today is to make additional contributions and come out with revelations concerning the Anlo Awoamefia Stool Father, Stool Secretary and Stool Council issue with respect to our previous questions as addressed to the Adzorviawo and Bateawo. We would support our assertions with facts that are readily available from the elders (home and abroad) and as per verifiable references cited below.

In October 1990 J. K. Sadika of P. O. Box 22, Anloga addressed a document titled “General Information on the Anlo Royal Paramount Stool” to The PNDC Secretary Responsible for Chieftaincy Affairs, Accra; The President, National House of Chiefs, Kumasi; The President, Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Ho and copied to The Registrar, Anlo Traditional Council. Mr. J. K. Sadika signed the letter and its cover page as “Stool Father.”

Amega Joseph Koblavi Sadika in 1991 wrote a "CHIEFTAINCY PETITION" to the Judiciary Committee of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, The Registrar of the Volta Region House of Chiefs and to the Respondent, the late Torgbi Adeladza II. He copied his petition to the PNDC Secretary for Chieftaincy Affairs and The Registrar, National House of Chiefs, Kumasi. In his petition, he called himself a "Stool Father of the Royal Awoamefia Stool Family."

His petition triggered an immediate response from the Acting Registrar of the Anlo Traditional Council on January 8, 1991, who wrote, quote "There is no position of stool father in our customary establishment and so whoever calls himself a stool father in Anlo is day dreaming or perverting the Anlo custom." unquote. The Acting Registrar addressed his letter to The PNDC Secretary for Chieftaincy Affairs and copied it to The President, National House of Chiefs, Kumasi; The President, Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Ho and Mr. J. K. Sadika, P. O. Box 22, Anloga.

Another document titled “Anlo Paramount Stool Affairs” was written on 10th January 1995 and sent to the same offices above and referenced ASSF/301/95. It was signed by Kwadzo Agboada on behalf of the “Sri Stool Father”, J. K. Sadika.

Twenty-five years earlier on June 6, 1966, the Elders of the Adzorvia Royal Clan in the persons of Torgbi Nyaho Tamaklo III for Alagbati House, Tormishie Atsu Agba Sorkpor for Alagbati House, Mitsoewu Kedey for Nyaxoenu/Yorxoenu House and Kwasi Duvor Nunekpeku, Ag. Ashimatsonushrine for Deti House addressed a similar letter to Mr. J. K. Sadika, Atiavi/Keta in response to a letter written by him. The Elders of the Adzorvia Clan said inter alias and quote “the self-styled 'stool father' you are trying to acclaim is not customary in Anlo and it is not in our traditional set-up------.” unquote.

The responses from the Acting Registrar of the Anlo Traditional Council and the three Houses of the Adzorvia Royal Clan (Alagbati, Deti and Nyaxoenu/Yorxoenu) indicate that there is no such thing as Stool Father (Zikpuitor) for the Anlo Awoamezi.

On Friday June 27th, 2003 an unauthorized and unlawful meeting was held at the Keta District Assembly Hall in view of a pendency of suit and motion for interim injunction against Francis Nyonyo Agboada and R. H. Akatti, at which meeting an Anlo Traditional Council was supposed to have been “reconstituted.” Unfortunately, this happened under the chairmanship of Torgbi Addo VIII of Klikor, with the Supervising High Court Judge His Lordship Justice Gyaesayor acting as the swearing-in attendant! At this meeting, Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada (aka Seth Lumorvi Atsitsogbui) was introduced as a “stool regent” (aka Torgbi Sri III) and the “acting president of Anlo Traditional Council”, with Mr. Vincent Kofi Egle Agboada and Mr. Napoleon Kodzo Agboada holding themselves as the stool father and Awoamefia secretary, respectively.

The foregoing are some of the basis upon which several latest petitions (some of which are still pending) are based. In a petition to the Judicial Committee of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Ho and dated March 13, 2003 and on April 19, 2006, the late Amega David Kofi Nyonator Togobo, Lt. Col. (Rtd) Courage G. K. Togobo, Amega Christian Nyonator Kwawukume and Amega Seth Kofi Agbonuglah Kwawukume sought relief to restrain the respondents, Mr. Vincent Kofi Egle Agboada and Mr. Napoleon Kodzo Agboada from holding themselves as the stool father and stool secretary, respectively to the Anlo Awoamezi. In section 6 (f) of the document, the petitioners sought the following relief among others, and I quote “(f) quite recently, the Respondents, acting jointly and clandestinely and unlawfully purported to have appointed the first defendant (Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada a.k.a. Seth Lumorvi Atsitsogbui of Anloga/Accra) as 'Regent' for the vacant stool on 16th May 1998 under the stool name of 'Togbui Sri III'… The Respondents impudently and unlawfully purported to have appointed 2nd Respondent (Mr. Vincent Kofi Egle Agboada of Anloga) 'Stool Father'; the 3rd Respondent (Mr. Dotse Gagadosu of Anloga) the 'Head of Azimaxada family' and the 4th Respondent (Mr. Napoleon K. Agboada of Anloga/Accra) as the 'Stool Secretary.' All these actions are unlawful, contrary to the customs of 'Awoame zi' and to the traditions of Anlo as far as the Awoamezi is concerned and null and void ab initio. (g) that recently the Respondents have jointly and unlawfully met to install and confine a substantive Awoamefia.” Unquote.

Therefore the several letters and publications that were circulated during the NPP era, including the one written to The Divisional Commander, Ghana Police Service, Keta by Mr. Napoleon K. Agboada in the purported capacity of Anlo Awoamefia Stool Secretary on October 22, 2007 were deliberately misleading, malicious and mischievous at best. Napoleon's letter was copied to The Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Castle-Osu; The Minister, Ministry of Interior, Accra; The Minister, Chieftaincy Affairs, Accra; The District Commissioner, Ghana Police Service, Anloga; The Regional Minister, Regional Administration, Ho, VR; and The Chairman, District Security Council, Keta.

It has been reported, “In 2007, Mr. Napoleon Kodzo Agboada published an announcement in the Daily Graphic appointing one Apetor Tsimenu as the new stool-father in place of Mr. Vincent Kofi Egle Agboada. But Apetor Tsimenu refused to accept the appointment on the grounds that, by Anlo customary practice and tradition not until an incumbent stool-father has died, a new one is not appointed to replace him.

With that slap, as it were, in the face, Nyonyo and his henchman, Napoleon announced the appointment of another person, known as Amega Ahiadedzi Semana Gozah, as stool father. It is also on similar grounds and for other reasons that Dumega Hiadedzi Gozah of Anloga in October 2007, declined to accept the offer of the Awoamefia Stool Father as presented to him by Mr. Seth Lumorvi Atsitsogbui (aka Francis Nyonyo Osei Agboada) and Mr. Napoleon Kodzo Agboada, with Mr. Albert Sadika of Atiavi nominated as his deputy.” Amega Hiadedzi Gozah was subsequently relocated to Accra by his children so as to stay away from this and other Awoamefia issues. It is no coincidence that Mr. Napoleon Kodzo Agboada is married to Dumega Hiadedzi Gozah's daughter, Ablator via the Anlo matrilineal “tashivi-nyruivi sror” (cross-cousin) marriage system!

Just recently, on Thursday July 23, 2009 at about 4:00 pm, the relative peace and calm at Anloga, the capital of Anlo was disturbed when an Accra FM radio news item reported Togbui Duklui Attipoe, a chief of Anyako making an announcement indicating that Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada will be installed the Awoamefia of Anlo, sparking off the disturbance. This was after some chiefs, including Togbui Duklui Attipoe paid a call on Mr. Joseph Zaphenat Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister on Wednesday July 22, 2009. Here is a quote from a news media report once again referring to a stool father as Sadika: “The Minister said the delegation comprised Togbui Duklui Attipoe, who introduced himself as the spokesman, Togbui Gamor, Togbui Klongo (sic), Mr. Atsu Agboada and Mr. Albert Quarshie Sadika who was introduced as Stool Father” (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=165931). The Volta Regional Minister has since learnt his lesson and has distanced himself from the blunder.

It is, however, worthy to note that the late Torgbi Sri II (OBE, CBE, KMC, MLC), the fourteenth Awoamefia of Anlo [30/07/1907-06/05/1956 (49 years reign)] is reported to have appointed one Amehame (Ametame) Agboada, a resident of Nyaxoenu as caretaker or custodian of the Stool, "because he was living in an apartment of the Stool building." In Anlo adage, we say that “axa koe dzia norpe”. That was one of the reasons why the late Amega Dotse Gagadosu Agboada used to appropriately sign official Adzorvia documents as “stool custodian” (see Re: Awoamefia Selection Affairs letter written and signed in 2000 by Elders of the Adzorvia Royal Clan, % P. O. Box 3, Anloga and addressed to Members, Anlo Traditional Council, P. O. Box 29, Anloga) and not as “stool father”.

These revelations, a later-day event as it were, would then beg answers to the following questions:

• If the institution of Stool Father had already existed in Anlo for the Awoamezi, would not Torgbi Sri II have had a Stool Father appointed instead of a caretaker/custodian, who just happened to be in close proximity to the Stool?

• Does this caretaker appointment by Torgbi Sri II create or intend to create an institution of Stool Father for the Awoamezi or for that matter, subsequently the institutions of Stool Secretary and Stool Council?

• And does the appointment of Amega Amehame Agboada make the Agboadas and or the Sadikas the sole families from whom a Stool Father and Stool Secretary must be appointed? For detailed information on the family tree of Amehame Agboada and the other Agboadas, please visit our earlier open letter to Mr. Napoleon Kodzo Agboada at http://www.modernghana.com/news/203571/1/open-letter-to-napoleon-kodzo-agboada-the-self-pro.html.

• Since later-day Agboadas and Sadikas have created and continued to create most of our current Awoamefia problems, is it not time that they should forever be banned from playing the role of caretaker or custodianship in Anlo?

The true and authentic Adzorviawo (and probably Bateawo) are the only ones who may be able to answer these mind-boggling questions.

Now that the caretaker position or custodianship of the Awoamezi of Anlo is vacant, we would like to suggest that the position be transferred to other credible families on rotational basis.

Today as practiced in the State of Anlo, Elders of lower Stools in Anlo appoint Stool Fathers to take care of their Stools, Stool properties and other affairs related to the Stools. Apparently, these appointments are local practices and are unofficial.

Our valuable sources of information, both home and abroad are hereby being gratefully credited!

Source:
Dr. A. Kobla Dotse, Ewenya menya hehem o.
[email protected]
Development / Accra / Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com