New 'Mankrado' enstooled at Apirede-Akuapem

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Sep - 30 - 2019 , 09:57 3 minutes read

Apirede-Akuapem in the Okuapeman Traditional Area in the Eastern Region went agog last Friday when the Group President of Paper House Ghana Limited, a security and commercial printing company in Accra, Mr Prince Daniels, was enstooled as the new Mankrado.

The new chief, whose stool name is Nana Ogyiri Kwaku Manu II, comes from the Anumude Clan.

Nana Ogyiri Kwaku Manu II, aged 45, is an old student of the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School (PRESEC) at Legon in Accra.

He is also an alumnus of SHL University, London, and George Washington University, USA.

He worked in various Information Technology (IT) companies in US and UK before returning to Ghana in 2006.

Custom

Dressed in red and black attire with white arm and neck bands, both the young and old, in the community first went on the traditional ‘manhunt’ for the whereabouts of the new chief as part of the entooling ceremony which was characterised by the rich custom, tradition and culture of the Apirede people.

As a long held tradition, the Asafo Company (warriors), led by the Asafohene (leader of the warriors), Asafohene Yaw Aboagye IV, led the Asafo Company to search for the house and room where the new then yet-to-be chief was apparently hiding or staying.

The Asafo Company, while beating gong-gong and chanting war songs, searched every nook and cranny of the town to find Nana Ogyiri Kwaku Manu II.

Anxiety was building up as the Asafo company could not immediately find the location of the new chief, having searched a number of houses.

As all plays have climaxes, the chief was finally found and the message that the new chief has been found, was received with thunderous cheers, both from the members of the Asafo company and the indigenes who followed the Asafo company to search for the new chief.

Having been found, the new chief was brought out from his room, dressed in black “batakari” (smock) and black trousers.

Before he was carried on the shoulders of the men of the Asafo Company, the women in the crowd, who were singing, dancing and twirling white calico, sprinkled white powder on the new chief.

Nana Ogyiri Kwaku Manu II was carried on the shoulders of the Asafo company through some principal streets of the town as he enjoyed the applause of the residents, some standing in front of their houses, to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.

Coronation

While the chief was being carried through the town, a mini durbar of chiefs, elders and opinion leaders as well as the residents of the community, was held where the chief was brought and a ram slaughtered on his legs, after which he was led to a room where he would study the customs and traditions of his stool for seven days.