Ahanta Traditional Council bans Kundum in honour of slain king

Busua (W/R), Aug. 6, GNA - The Ahanta Traditional Council in the Western Region has placed a ban on the celebration of this year's annual Kundum festival, to signify a state of mourning throughout the traditional area, following the arrival in the country of the head of its slain king from The Hague about two weeks ago. The Kundum festival is celebrated by the peoples of Ahanta and Nzema in the Western Region.

The head of King Badu Bonsu II had remained in the Netherlands since 1838 when he was captured and killed by a Dutch force during confrontation.

Otumfuo Badu Bonsu XV, the present occupant of the Ahanta stool and a direct brother of the late king announced this on Wednesday at an emergency meeting at Busua, the traditional capital. The meeting is to plan the funeral and other rites for King Bonsu II whom he described as "a hero of his time".

Eminent chiefs, personalities and institutions including the Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Regional House of Chiefs would be appointed to plan a befitting funeral and other rites and prepare a final resting place for the late Ahanta king.

Otumfuo Badu Bonsu commended the New Patriotic Party administration and the present government for pursuing the people's demand for the return of the head their king for a dignifying burial. He reiterated the traditional council's determination to work with relevant institutions to press for compensation in the form of schools, roads, water and other development projects and also the return of gold, gold ornaments and valuable artefacts looted by the invading Dutch force.

A delegation comprising government and the Ahanta Traditional Council took delivery of the head of the king, at a ceremony at The Hague on July 23 2009. It had since remained in the custody of the government and is being kept at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. 6 Aug. 09