Afarihene belongs to the Kronti division or clan of the King, This is a stool for the Princess s of the Asantehene and is therefore one of patrilineal descent, traditionally known as Mmama Dwa. It is said that this stool of patrilineal descent is awarded solely by the appointment or prerogative of Asantehene.
The occupant of this stool is traditionally known as the occupant of Achampon Akwasi stool. He swears to the Asantehene with the Mpomponsuo sword, the principal sword of the King. Although the occupant of this stool is at present in the Kronti division or clan of the King, he has direct access to the King, without passing through the Krontihene/ Bantamahene, the Head Clan Chief of the King.
This stool of Afari is said to have been created by Nana Oti Akenten, one of the early rulers of Kwaaman. (Now Kumase) It is said that Nana Achampon, the first occupant of this stool was a prince of Nana Oti Akenten. He is also said to have been on the stool during the reign of Nana Obiri Yeboah. During all this time Nana Achampon was recognised as the Head of the Princes of Asantehene. Nana Achampon, it is said, went to the Dormaa war which was fought at Suntreso, that is an area where we have the present Estate buildings. It was during this war that King Obiri Yeboah met his death at the hands of the Dormaas. King Obiri Yeboah was succeeded on the stool by his nephew, Osei Tutu, the founder of the Asanti Nation.
It is said that on his enstoolment King Osei Tutu, took the offensive against the Dormaa pursued them to Abempradaase from Abempradaase they fled to Abesim, still followed by King Osei Tutu and the Asanti army. It is said that before the reign of King Osei Tutu Nana Achampon, Afarihene, served the King direct. He was more or less an independent chief, not subject to any clan. But during the reign of King Osei Tutu, there was a big reorganisation of chiefs in Kumasi and consequently Nana Aehampon, the Prince of Oti Akenten, was placed in the Kronti division. He went to the Abesim war and fought against the Dormaas, when Dormaa Kusi the Commander-in-Chief of the Dormaas, was captured and beheaded by the Asanti army. It was after this victory that King Osei Tutu came to power and transferred Nana Achampon to the Kronti clan.
His main object in making this transfer was that the Kronti division was inclined to be rebellious, so to obviate any future discord or feuds against the Aban Dwa (the Golden Stool), it was thought meet and proper to transfer a son of the Golden Stool to the Kronti clan, to serve as a watchdog within that division. Even today the Afarihene serves as a “detective” of the King so far as the Kronti clan of the King is concerned. Nana Achampon was followed on the stool by Oheneba Kwakye during the reign of Asantehene Nana Opoku Ware, Okatakyei. Oheneba Kwakye, it is said, was a cousin of Nana Achampon. He went to the Takyiman war and fought against the Takyimanhene in the reign of Asantehene Nana Opoku Ware. He also went to the Gyaman war and fought against the Gyamanhene, Abo Kofi, who was captured and decapitated by the Asantis.
Oheneba Kwakye was succeeded on the stool by Atta Yaw, a grandson of the Golden Stool, in the reign of Asantehene King Osei Kwadwo, the great fighting A king who fought in the broad daylight. He was destooled for maladministration. The stool was vacant for some time after this. Atta Yaw was succeeded by Kwabena Tiah, a grandson of the Golden Stool, in the reign of Asantehene Osei Yaw-Akoto. He went to the Akatamansu war. Kwabena Tiah, it is said, reigned for a very long time.
He became a very old and incapacitated chief. It is said that he was on the stool in the first part of the reign of King Prempeh l He was followed on the stool in 1900 by Yaw Mensah, by the appointment of the The British government, after the Yaa Asantewa war, when the administration of Asante was confused. It is said that he was eventually destooled by the stool subjects as a result of mal-administration. Yaw Mensah was succeeded by Kwame Dapaah, a grandson of the Golden Stool. He was enstooled in 1912 and died on the stool in 1955. He was followed on the stool by Achampon Kwasi, also a grandson of the Golden Stool, and the present occupant of the stool. He was enstooled on September 26th, 1955, and took the Oath of Allegiance to the present reigning monarchy Nana Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, with the Mpomponsuo sword.
Source: Ashantibiz
