|
|
Some Tributes
Book of Condolence for Otumfuo Opoku Ware II & Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku II
 
On the left: Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the 18th King of Ashanti and 15th of The Golden Stool.
In 1940, Sir Agyemang Prempeh wanting a great school in the Ashanti Region, asked no less than
his own apparent heir Nana Opoku Ware to build it. Opoku Ware, imbued with
unexampled humility painfully and asidously did the field work himself. He could have put
his hands in his pocket by ordering lesser men to do it. During the survey exercise
something happened. It must be recalled that the Wooden structure we find sprawling to
the Brigade quarters were buildings for a special Military Hospital serving the Royal West
African Frontier Force. "Hey Surveyor what the hell are you doing there?" yelled some tall
Army Colonels. Nana Opoku Ware displaying humility and masculine bravery, did not
mind them but continued his work with undiminished firmness. "Hey Mr. Surveyor, I say
who authorized you here and what in the hell do you think you are doing? Otumfuo did not
mind them but continued the assignment his uncle had given him. Then came the soldiers to
confront the future king. Whereupon, he explained that his Uncle, the King had ordered
him to do that job. Quickly the Army officers drove to the King's Palace. Prempeh II
made it clear to them that he had embarked that land for a First Class School. That school is Prempeh College.
On the right (above): Osagyefoo Kuntunkununku II, King of Akyem and President of the National House of Chiefs.
Below: The two Kings together
Our dead king, Kuntunkununku, was the 33rd to sit on the Akyem stool. His name was made
for the talking drums - can you hear? It was also the name of the very first Akyem king, known
in private life as Dr Alex Fredua Agyemang. He was only 57 when he died. He graduated from Prempeh College in 1961, and was trained in Hungary
and Prague as a physician.
Kuntunkununku was delightfully literate. In 1991 he wrote a forward to the brochure of a
major Akyem Festival, Odwira, in which he said: "One of the surest ways to undermine a
people's self-esteem and enslave their minds is to alienate them from their own culture.
European imperialism understood this too well. We must therefore hold on doggedly to our
cultural heritage, to avoid becoming caricatures of other nations."
NAME: Andrew Owusu-Baafi
LOCATION: Georgia, USA
DATE: September 18, 1999
CONDOLENCES:
ASANTEMAN DAMIRIFA DUE ! DUE !! DUE!!!
NAME: Dr. Baffour Kwaku Amo-Takyi
LOCATION: Germany
DATE: September 9, 1999
CONDOLENCES: My condolences Nana, you have left a vacuum in our midst.
NAME: Dr. Akwasi Asiama Amponsah
LOCATION: Virginia, USA
DATE: August 21, 1999
CONDOLENCES: Ghanaians and all Amanfoo have indeed lost a great son and a true
patriot. Nana, may you rest in peace. Your spirit lives on!
NAME: Stanley A. Yeboah
LOCATION: England
DATE: August 18, 1999
CONDOLENCES: Nana, my condolences. Your soul and good deeds live on.
NAME: Kwame Gyamfi
LOCATION:USA
DATE: May 26, 1999
CONDOLENCES: I am shocked to hear of the death of Kuntunkununku II. I
met the King during my travels as a tourist in 1994-95. He
was a very tough man to get to know, however, after I got
to know him I learned to respect him and appreciate his
vision for Ghana. We (African-Americans) are saddend by the news and send our
condolences to the family and friends of
a great King.
NAME: Peter Amoateng, Asanteman Sec. Sch (Nananom)
LOCATION:Germany
DATE: May 17, 1999
CONDOLENCES: The death of Otumfour has touched the hearts of all who knew him
personally or just through the media. His majestic appearance, his unparelled
sense of duty to Asanteman in particular and to his nation Ghana has won him a
permanent place in the hearts of all africans.May your spirit continue to bind
our great nation,Ghana,together to face the challenges ahead.Damirifa due,
Nana Nante yie!
NAME: Dr. N. Gyasi-Agyei
LOCATION:Lesotho
DATE: April 15, 1999
CONDOLENCES: Nana Kuntunkununku, Rest in peace!
All good men do not die.
They are just called by their
creator for special assignments !
We should look at Nana`s depature
as such.
I hope he is as useful where ever his
soul may be now and we shall meet
him again in "the Prempeh College on
the other side" where our good character
and leadership will be perfected.
Nana, do not forget us and keep our
mortal spirits up to face the challenges
your departure will lead us in.
Rest in peace till we meet again.
NAME: Kobina Ewusie-Prah
LOCATION:Ghana
DATE: April 13, 1999
CONDOLENCES: SIMPLY PUT,NANA WAS A GOOD LEADER,WITH RICH,PEACEFUL AND A
REWARDING LIFE.HIS GENTILITY,CIVILITY,INTELLIGENCE AND LOVE
WERE ALL BROUGHT TO THE FORE IN HIS DEALINGS,AND HE CARRIED
THEM THROUGHOUT HIS REIGN. NANA, DAMRIFA DUEI!! DUEI NE AMANE
HUNU, NANA DA DINN!!!!!
NAME: Ata Kusi Bosompra Bonna (Katakyie)
LOCATION: USA
DATE: April 6, 1999
CONDOLENCES: Osagyefo Kuntunkununku dammirifa, dammirifa due! Akyem Abuakwa, Asona
Piesie mu hene Brempon, Kwae-bibiri-mu-hene, Osepetitiriku a ne ho bon atuduru.
Abenaa Amoako nua Odomenako Sakyi a oso aworoben; Birefi Akurampon, Ofie
Kyekyewerefoo, Kukyireku Osebo a oda sesee mu, Ama Agyenaa a ote abura so, Ofori
nana a wode sika atumpan gye no taataa. Okuntunkununku ne Oduro Asafo Boakye
nana Weawea-nsaa-so, Asona Werempeakwahene brempon mu hene, Aberewa Dokuaa okofo
nana firi Banso Adu Ampoforo Antwi. Wo nuanom ne wo nananom Prempeh Amanfoo ne
won nuanom Opoku Ware Akatakyie ma wo dammirifa due. Dammirifa due due! Osagyefo
ako, ako, ako. Dammirifa Asona!
NAME: George Opoku
LOCATION: USA
DATE: March 27, 1999
CONDOLENCES: It is always an honor to realize that Amanfours' rise up to occupy
noble positions. Certainly Osagyefo Kuntunkununku was no exception. Nana
Kuntunkununku gave us all pride and he exhibited a high degree of nobility. To
be dealt with such a blow is very hard to take. May God rest his soul and may
his spirit continue to guide us. Nana "Damirifa Due', Due ne amane hunu".
NAME: George Opoku
LOCATION: USA
DATE: March 27, 1999
CONDOLENCES: Nana 'tumfour, we will miss you very much. Not only were you an asset
to the Ashanti kingdom, but to the entire nation of Ghana. I personally feel a
great loss because when you grow up with somebody, it's very difficult to lose
them. Otumfour Opoku Ware II, became my king in 1970 when I was only seven
years old. After 29 years, it is only natural to become attached to such a
figure. Him and his late brother, the former Bantamahene Nana Osei Bonsu were
very close friends of my father. I had a great admiration for him a lot. I'll
miss him very much. "Damirifa Due', due' ni amane hunu."
NAME: Andy Nana Osei Akoto
LOCATION: Accra, Ghana
DATE: March 26, 1999
CONDOLENCES: Otumfuo's balancing act of maintaining his stature, presence, grace and nobility
of his position through the 29 years of his reign especially duting military
uprisings has left an indelible impact.
A scholar and eminent stateman is what he shall forever be
remebered by me.
May God grant his soul perfect peace.
NAME: Harold Ofori
LOCATION: USA
DATE: March 26, 1998
CONDOLENCES: May you rest in peace Osagyefuo. Rest in perfect Peace. Otumfuo, Kose kose kose. Your nobility,
majesty, and legacy will forever live on. Demirifa Due Due due. Nana dayie.
|
