Akuapem Odwira Festival

Menu
Menu

Brief History of Akuapem

The establishment of the Akuapem kingdom dates back to the 1600’s, the original inhabitants of the Akuapem hills were predominantly guans however, they invited the Akyems and the remnants of Akwamu which made up the now Akuapem kingdom.
Akuapem is situated in the Eastern Region of Ghana with its coordinates between longitude
0° 15W – 0° 00 and latitude 5° 45 – 6° 00 N. The name Akuapem which literally translate thousand groups “Nkuw Apem” was given to this people in the mountains by the then king of Akwamu Ansah Sasraku. They are bounded by the Ga’s on the south, the Adamgbe and Krobos on the East, the Akyems on the north and west.
The kingdom started with seventeen principal towns which have now grown to be over 120 towns. The original seventeen towns are:

Berekuso
Atweasing
Aburi
Ahwerease
Obosomase (Asantema)
Tutu
Mampong
Abotakyi
Amanokrom

Mamfe
Akropong
Abiriw
Odawu
Awukugua
Adukrom
Apirede
Larteh

The Akuapem people are a mixture of both twi speaking Akwamus and Akyems, and the Guans. The kingdom is governed by His Royal Majesty Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, the Okuapehene who is the overlord and supported by his five divisional heads. The divisional heads govern their respective divisions autonomously free from interference from their King; however, they swear allegiance to His Royal Majesty the Okuapehene as well as report state of their affairs during the traditional council meetings which is held at His Royal Majesty’s Palace at Akropong.
There are five divisions which are:
KRONTI
ADONTENG
GYAASE
BENKUM
NIFA

The ABOTAKYI ACCORD is one important history that every Akuapem needs to know…it summarizes how the Akuapems came to be. The Abotakyi Accord contained a time-frame condition to Safori’s leadership. According to the Accord, the AKYEM suzerainty would come to an end when a large stone which was ritually buried at Akropong would germinate, literally meaning ― become exposed.
Safori quickly re-organised the new battle group, with NKRUKEN (ABURI) as Advance Guard (ADONTEN). LARTEH commanded the Left Flank Hill Guans (BENKUM) whilst ADUKROM, leading the KYEREPONS, commanded the Right Flank (NIFA). The AKUAPEM state was thereby created, with AKROPONG as its capital.