People & Places: How the Akuapem people settled on the hilly areas of the Eastern Region

In groups of 1000’s, they managed to defeat their one-time rivals; the Akwamus, who otherwise would have taken over their lands and ruled over them. From this, they got their name; Akuapem, from the Akan words ‘Akuw-Apem’ which is translated as ‘a thousand groups.’

They have ‘Ofie’ as their common tag; a name that portrays their homeliness and welcoming attitude but one would barely know, they had to literally ‘fight’ through the odds, to take what, according to them, was their rightful lands.

Imploring the help of the Akyems, they conquered and defeated the Akwamus from the Krobolands through the Volta River, and gained their independence.

Then came the Abotakyi accord, the symbol of agreement between them (the Akuapems) and their ‘saviours’; the Akyems. This made the Akyems their overlord, with leaders from the Akuapem lineage serving as sub-chiefs to support him.

Today, the Okuapehene (overlord of Akuapem) still emerges from the Akyem lineage and he rules with 5 divisional chiefs; the Krontihene, Adontehene, Gyaasehene, Nifahene and the Benkumhene.

They still have links with the ‘defeated’ Akwamus whom they call their brothers, and are very closely tied to the Akyem paramountcy; the Okyenhene.

A history ride with the People and Places team in the hilly areas of the Akuapem township reveals intriguing secrets about this wonderful group.

Nana Addo Kwataa, Kronti Osafohene tells GhanaWeb all about the Akuapem people in this edition of People and Places. The full interview airs on Monday, July 6, 2020 on GhanaWeb TV.