Sarfo-Asante installed chief of Kumawu

By Kofi Banzana

AT LONG last 47-year-old Dr. Emmanuel Yaw Kantanka Sarfo-Asante, a Medical Superintendent in charge of the Saint Michael's Catholic Hospital at Pramso in the Bosomtwe District of Ashanti in Ghana has been installed the new chief of Kumawu.

Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II's representatives in the persons of Nana Yaw Mensah and Baffour Antwi Boasiako, Otumfuos' linguist and Otumfuo's Akyeamehene's rep respectively witnessed the installation at Kumawu Thursday morning.

Dr. Sarfo-Asante, who goes by the stool name of Barima Tweneboah Koduah, succeeds the late chief of Kumawu, Barima Asumadu Sakyi II, who passed away in 2007 after a 34-year rule, having been nominated by the Queen Nana Serwaa Amponsah.

Last Thursday, Dr. Sarfo-Asante swore the oath of allegiance to Kumawuman before kingmakers and stool elders amid pomp and pageantry which occasion brought an end to the chieftaincy dispute there.

Barima Tweneboah Koduah, swore the oath to the Gyaasehene and Nifahene, Twafokan hene, Sarmanhene, Drobonsohene ,Twafohene, Baamuhene, Kyeame Agyekum, Kyeame Karikari Acheampong, Kyeame Baafi, Kyeame Koduah who also took turns to swear their allegiance to the new chief and advised him variously.

The new chief has promised to champion the development of Kumawu and defend it at all times.

Conspicuously absent at the colourful ceremony were Nana Peprah Kodua II and Nana Akwasi Baffoe, Krontihene and Akwamuhene respectively of Kumawu, who were said to be indisposed.

Ashanti Watch is reliably informed that Dr. Ssarfo-Asante would swear the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II presiding over an Asanteman Council meeting on Monday, November 3 at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

The 47-year-old medical director is a product of Dontsk State Medical University, Ukraine having read medicine (Physician) between 1990 and1997. He was at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) for his Health Administration and Management – August 2006 and had a stint at the National AIDS/STI Control Programme (Ghana Health Service) for HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in May 2009.

Dr. Sarfo-Asante read Master of Public Health (MPHCPRN) in February 2006 at the

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) after he had studied Proficiency in Leadership in May 2005 at the same University.

He has contributed to the construction of the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic for the Care and Treatment of HIV/AIDS at the St. Michael's Hospital at Pramso.

Dr. Sarfo-Asante proposed the Establishment of a Midwifery Training School at Pramso and worked for the expanded capacity of the Morgue ensuring quality of Mortuary Services to the people of Bosomtwe district and beyond.

Other achievements since 2000 at the St. Michael's Catholic Hospital including heading management to construct a two-storey State-of-the-art for Expansion of Services (Reproductive and Child Health, Dental Care, Ear, Nose and Throat and Office Accommodation) at St. Michael's Hospital as well as establishing an Emergency Unit at St. Michael's Hospital, Pramso.

The Eye care at St. Michael's Hospital, Pramso was expanded under his instrumentality by soliciting donor funding to construct an ultra modern Clinic building. E N D.

Picture: Barima Tweneboah Koduah