Queenmother's burial delays for five years

By Kofi Banzana

The burial of the late queen mother of Adum Odumasi near Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana, Nana Afia Afra, who died in January 2010, has delayed for five years.

Baffour Agyei Kesse IV, the Adumhene of Kumasi has invoked the great oath of Asante (Ntamkese of Asante or Otumfuo's Ntamkesie) against her burial.

The Adumhene position is explained that he does not accept the claim of the family of the late queen mother that she is Oheneyere (Wife of Otumfuo).

He would therefore not accept that the late queen mother is accorded any royal burial as Oheneyere.

As if that was not enough, the Adumhene has destooled the odikro of the community, Nana Kofi Acheamfuor and the Abusuapanin of the Asene Royal family of Adum Odumasi and replaced them.

The Adumhene has admitted invoking Otumfuo's oath which he said was done to stop the planned burial of the late queen mother as Oheneyere (Otumfuo's wife) which she is not.

Baffour Agyei Kesse said he had no problem with the family of the late queen mother burying their royal as queen mother but not as Oheneyere.

According to Baffour Agyei Kesse he had invited the family of the late queen mother on several occasions to plan the burial but they refused.

He said he had personally pleaded with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for the burial of the late queen mother in the face of the pending oath following which a directive was issued for a dispute to be withdrawn for out of court settlement in March 18, 2011.

But one Nana Kwadwo Amoah Ampem Okokogyeabuor, an Ashanti royal of Ahenema Kokoben has challenged Adumhene's position.

He contended that the late queen mother is Oheneyere and has documentary evidence to that effect.

Nana Kwadwo Amoah Ampem Okokogyeabuor has therefore petitioned the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu to intervene in the matter and ensure fair play.

Nana Kwadwo Amoah Ampem Okokogyeabuor believes the Adumhene destooled the odikro in order to embark on the wanton sale of plots of land belonging to the Adum Afra Stool.