Former Toronto Asantefuohene Passes Away

The sadden death of the late Nana Wiafe-Akenten is announced in Toronto, Canada, on Friday, 17th February 2012 after a protracted sickness. He passed away at the Humber River Regional Hospital, Church Street in Toronto. He was 65 years old. He is survived by his mother, wife, 3 children (2 boys and a girl and 5 grandchildren, 2 boys and 3 girls).

Since his arrival in Canada in 1971, Nana has been an ardent exponent of the Ghanaian culture, especially chieftancy among Asantes in Toronto.

He was the 2nd Asantefuohene of Toronto from 1986 to 1988. It was during his reign as the Asantefuohene of Toronto that the Ashanti Canadian Cultural Group participated in the Caribana festival, now known as Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival, in 1987 and 1988. He again took the showcasing and promotion of Ghanaian culture to the North York Carnival in 1988. His accomplishment as a dynamic “ambassador” of Ghanaian culture in Canada caught the eyes of the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and the Asanteman Council. Subsequently on February 17, 1991 in Kumasi, Ghana, Nana Wiafe Akenten was honoured with an Asanteman Award on the occasion of the “Adae Kese” of the Ashanti people. During the 4th Annual Ghanaian Canadian Achievement Awards in 2003, a celebration of excellence to honour diasporans, Nana Wiafe-Akenten was honoured for cultural promotion which he deserved.

After his term of office, he continued to play the role of cultural exponent in Toronto as an advisor to subsequent Asantefuohene on matters of cultural importance. He loved God, his culture, business and community. He will be dearly missed. Odupon etutu. Damirifa due due. Funeral announcement will be announced later.