Oti: Apesokubi holds final funeral rites for late Omanhene,Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II
Sunday, March 26, 2023
The chiefs and people of the Apesokubi Traditional Area in the Biakoye District of the Oti Region, have held the final funeral rites for their late Paramount Chief who passed on to eternity in 2009. Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II, who reigned from 1950 to 2009, became the longest living and serving traditional ruler in the then Volta Region which included the current Oti Region.
The 59-year reign of the late Paramount Chief who also doubled as the Apesokubihene, did not only see unity and the preservation of the rich culture and traditions of the people but also saw tremendous development of the area. Apesokubi indeed experienced great physical, qualitative growth and development during the reign of Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II. Schools, roads, pipe-borne water and other social amenities expanded considerably during the reign of the late Omanhene, leading to quality improvement in the life of the people.
The weeklong funeral rites, brought together thousands of the sons and daughters of Apesokubi from far and near to partake in some of the rich cultural traditions and values which saw the late Omanhene and Apesokubihene off to his final resting place.
The ‘Odente’ and ‘Krikiti’ dance forms were among the dominant rich cultural performances that characterized the funeral celebrations amidst singing of ‘asafo’ songs and dirges as well as processions associated with constant and regular firing of musketry.
A highly attended durbar of the chiefs and citizenry on Saturday saw the retelling of the entire history of Apesokubi, including its paramountcy and chieftaincy journey as well as the historical reminiscences of the people of Apesokubi, to their present state.
The durbar was used to announce to the citizenry, the gazetting of the current Omanhene of the Apesokubi Traditional Area, Okogyeman Asiedu Koram II. This announcement was not only received with a loud applause but also with jubilation from all and sundry. The gazette document was subsequently presented to the Omanhene by the Nifahene, Nana Kwasi Apew III after its contents were loudly read to the citizens.
By virtue of this development, the Omanhene has subsequently been inducted into the Oti Regional House of Chiefs as a member at an impressive ceremony at Dambai.
Delegations of chiefs, queenmothers and other traditional leaders from both the Oti and Volta Regions, were also present at the funeral. The Regional Minister, Hon. Joshua Makubu and the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), were represented at the funeral by an eight-member delegation led by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Biakoye, Hon Millicent Karboo Kabuki.
In a statement, his successor and current Paramount Chief, Okogyeman Asiedu Koram II, described the late Omanhene as a unifying figure who prioritized the welfare, unity and development of his subjects or people during his reign, adding that his vision and sterling leadership qualities had contributed immensely to the stability, growth and development of Apesokubi and its citizenry not only across the length and breadth of the country but also beyond the shores of Ghana.
A tribute by the Nifahene, Nana Kwasi Apew III noted that the late Omanhene had great personal attributes. These, he said included a sharp wit, an incisive analytical mind and an amazingly retentive memory. According to Nana Apew III, the late Paramount Chief’s instinctive and spontaneous recollections of important matters and events with relevant details, combined with his profound understanding of their significant implications to produce brilliant summaries and insightful presentations in all cases that came up for consideration and necessary action, were instructive.
Tributes from the Baamuhene, Nana Adom Brakatu III, Kontihene, Nana Dr. Osafo Akwa III as well as the Nifahemaa, Nana Yaa Osremaa, all described the late Apesokubihene and Omanhene as a selfless and principled traditional leader.
The late Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II was born at Apesokubi on 10th April, 1921 to Opanin Kwaku Dente of the Clan Division of Twaaman-Aduana and Maame Ataa Afia of the Clan-Division of Atentre, both of Apesokubi.
He was christened Francis Kwasi Dente and received his primary school education at the First Century Gospel Church School popularly called, ‘Feetimu’ in Apesokubi. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Peki Blengo Boys’ Secondary School where he successfully obtained his Standard Seven School Certificate.
Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II was installed Apesokubihene and Omanhene of the Apesokubi Traditional Area in 1950 as the immediate successor to Nana Kwasi Adu, who died in 1948. Prior to his enstoolment, Nana Kataboa II was a Teacher at his Alma Mater, the First Century Gospel Church Primary School at Apesokubi. He rose to become a Headteacher at the school for a couple of years and later employed as a Postal Agent as Apesokubi.
Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II was quite eventful. He represented the Apesokubi Stool in the then on-going Kabo/Asukawkaw River Forest Reserve Enquiry, proceedings of which started in 1929 and ended in the last quarter of the 1950s with the formal declaration and establishment by government of the Kabo/Asukawkaw River Forest Reserve.
Official state records also show that it was Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II who, in his capacity as Apesokubihene and representing the Apesokubi Stool as landowner, formally granted in the early 1960s, the requisite right of entry in respect of the Volta River Authority (VRA) Resettlement Site at Asukawkaw in the then Volta Region.
Nana took serious interest in the education of his people. He thus teamed up with his colleague Chiefs and Elders, to assist in the establishment of the Apesokubi Local Authority Middle School in 1954. The school was built out of proceeds gained from the boundary dispute between Apesokubi and Asato.
Around 1955, Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II led his Council of Chiefs and Elders to strongly oppose and deter an intended installation of a chief in Apesokubi by the Akposo immigrants from French Togoland, who were and are still resident in Apesokubi. This resulted in a court suit instituted by the immigrants against Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II at the Buem State Council. The case was heard in 1957 and judgment went in favour of Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II against the immigrants. The immigrants subsequently appealed against the judgment of the Buem State Council, and still lost.
During his reign, Nana Kwasi Dente Kataboa II became a member of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs where he successfully served on different committees at different times. He served as a member of the Judicial and Research Committees of the House.
Source: Akukorku Media