Amanfoo at Kuntunkununku's Funeral

The Prempeh College Old Boys Association on August 13 1999 took turns to pay their last respects to the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Kuntunkunuku II.

The Kwahu Omanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II, who graduated from Prempeh College with Kuntunkununku II in 1961, led a large delegation of chiefs from the Eastern region to mourn with Okyeman over the death of their Omanhene who was the immediate past president of the House for two consecutive terms between 1992 and 1998.

The delegation presented customary drinks, a golden ring, a blanket, a pillow, a togas and 500,000 cedis cash.

The Northern regional house of chiefs was represented by a 17- member delegation led by Yunyoorana Yamiya Tooka II, a representative of the Nayiri of Mamprusi traditional area and president of the house.

The house donated woven burial cloth, five bottles of schnapps and 100,000 cedis cash.

The day, which was set aside for the Gyaase division of Okyeman, led by Osabarima Darkwa Woe, Kwabenhene, to pay their last respects, witnessed another day of thousands of mourners filing past Osagyefo Kuntunkunuku amidst the firing of musketry, drumming and dancing.

The day also saw delegations of some political parties who signed the book of condolence.

Prempeh College Class of '58, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led a delegation of the party that included its national chairman, Mr S.A. Odoi-Sykes.

Another Prempeh College mate, Mr Felix Amoah, Chairman of The Convention Party (CP), led the party's delegation. The party's delegation included Mr Kojo Botsio, immediate past interim chairman of the party. They donated one million cedis and a carton of schnapps to Okyeman Council.

Dr Edward Mahama, presidential candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC), led a delegation of the party to present customary drinks and 200,000 cedis to Okyeman council.

Some of the companies that sent delegations to mourn with Okyeman included Unipetro Ghana Limited and GoldenRae Mining Company, which donated customary drinks and 500 dollars cash to Okyeman Council.

In another development, the Akim Abuakwa Citizens Association in the United States, led jointly by its president, Mr Soloman Gyimah, and Mr K. Agyemang, welfare officer, presented 10 cartons of beer, 10 crates of minerals, 12 cartons of schnapps and five million cedis towards the funeral.

The association also donated 10 million cedis towards the raising of a monument in memory of Osagyefo Kuntunkunuku.

The National Reform Party, led by its interim chairman, Mr Peter Kpordugbe, also paid their last respect to the King. They presented customary drinks and 200,000 cedis to Okyeman Council.

The following is the tribute the Prempeh College Old Boys Association gave at the funeral:

OSAGYEFOO KUNTUNKUNUNKU II, OKYENHENE
A TRIBUTE BY PREMPEH COLLEGE OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION

The Old Boys Association of Prempeh College has learned with profound shock and regret the passing of Osagyefoo Kuntunkununku II, Okyenhene.

We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Akyem Abuakwa traditional Council, the good people of Akyem Abuakwa, and his family.

Osagyefoo Kuntunkununku II was an illustrious son of Prempeh College. He attended the school from 1957 to 1961, and was in Pearson Hose alongside the Akyempemhene of Akyem Abuakwa, Nana Danso Kokroko and Kumawuhene, Nana Asumadu Sakyi II. They were lifelong friends, classmates and housemates.

Osagyefoo Kuntunkununku II was a good and affable student and a skilled soccer player of the school team.

We the Old Boys of the School have followed his career after Prempeh with interest and pride. We were very proud to see him return to the country as a qualified medical doctor in 1972, and joyful at his enstoolment as the Okyenhene in 1976. A delegation of Old Boys called on him at his Palace to congratulate him on his enstoolment.

His election as President of the National House of Chiefs and member of the Council of State again filled us with much pride and joy and we visited him to offer congratulations on this remarkable achievement.

We were thus all too glad to accept his invitation to a thanksgiving service at Kyebi on January 17th where we were publicly recognized and later received and feted by Osagyefoo Kuntunkununku II in his palace.

Osagyefoo Kuntunkununku II kept himself informed of the school's progress and was quite enthusiastic when we invited him to attend a Grand Durbar of Amanfoo Chiefs as part of the school's Golden Jubilee celebrations on February 6, 1999.

Osagyefoo honoured the call of mother Prempeh and attended the Durbar in grand traditional style, accompanied by a good number of his divisional chiefs, elders and the good people of Akyem Abuakwa.

No one who attended the Durbar will forget the royal dignity he and his retinue exuded. He came to honour his school, and in so doing brought honour to his fellow Amanfoo and himself.

His passing has robbed the nation of the very significant contributions that Osagyefoo Kuntunkununku II was going to make towards further enhancement of the institution of chieftancy and of the unique insights he was sure to bring to deliberations of the Councilof State.

CLICK HERE TO READ A TRIBUTE BY AKYEMPEMHENE