This write-up is to help educate the youth of New Juaben and the public in general on the cultural and traditional practices, the history and unity of the royal family of New Juaben and Asante Juaben and chieftaincy affairs in New Juaben State as well as the contributions of Nananom to the socio-economic development of the New Juaben State since the enstoolment of Daasebre in October, 1992.
Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Professor Emeritus Oti Boateng, has called on the chiefs and people of New Juaben to bury their differences and forge ahead in unison to bring meaningful development to the area.
According to him, there is strength in unity, stressing that “with a united front we can overcome every obstacle that will confront us in our quest to provide good leadership to make lives of our subjects better.
Daasebre Oti Boateng made the call in an exclusive interview with Today to outline activities lined-up for the celebration of the 20th anniversary celebration of Akwantukese Festival as an institution and also give a vivid account of his 25 years of stewardship as the Omanhene of New Juaben.
The 20th anniversary of the Akwantukese Festival coincides with the commemoration of the Silver Jubilee (25 years) anniversary of the enstoolment of Daasebre Oti Boateng as the Omanhene of New Juaben.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Planting of a Perpetual Seed of Holistic Education to Benefit Ghana.”
When asked about the idea behind the theme for the cerebration, Daasebre Oti Boateng explained that the council came up with the theme because it realised that the current education system was not comprehensive enough.
According to him, the educational policies being rolled out by government like the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy was ‘necessary, extremely necessary, but statistically insufficient.’
‘Why do you roll-out a policy that caters for only pupils and students from public schools? What happens to those in the private schools? Aren’t those in the private schools human beings and Ghanaians”? These were questions Daasebre Oti Boateng asked.
“What we are going to do on the 28th October, 2017 at the Jackson Park in Koforidua is what is called holistic and sufficient education which is worth emulating by the state and other traditional authorities across the country to benefit our children’s children,” he disclosed.
He further explained that even though the government’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy is good, it will not help address the challenges in the country’s education sector.
“We have real challenges at the basic and junior levels of education in this country which need to be addressed first, to serve as a solid foundation for the improvement of secondary and tertiary education in the country,” Daasebre Oti Boateng indicated.
Background
20th Akwantukese Festival
Daasebre Oti Boateng instituted Akwantukese Festival in 1997 to strengthen the unity amongst the people, mobilise them for development, educate them on their origins, migration, tradition and customs, reinforce New Juaben and Ashanti unity and promote culture and tourism among other objectives. Two years after its inception, the festival won national and international acclaim as it marked the “Host Day” celebration forming part of the joint 33rd World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting, 24th Africa Travel Association (ATA) Annual Congress and the Convocation of the African Ministers of Tourism.
The Akwantukese Festival commemorates the great migration of the Juabens and their allies from their ancestral home in Ashanti to establish the New Juaben settlement in the Eastern Region.
It is a festival celebrated by the people of New Juaben Traditional Area in the Eastern Region. It is celebrated to mark the epic journey of the people from Juaben in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
This year’s celebration also marks the 25th anniversary of the enstoolment of Daasebre Professor Emeritus Oti Boateng, the current Omanhene of the traditional area.
The Akwantukese Festival, as celebrated over the years, promotes socio-economic development through education of the youth on their origins, traditions and customs and serves as a tourist attraction for people from all over the world.
The festival reflects a profound linkage to its great past, more especially the ethos and the culture of New Juaben.
Activities for the festival
The one-month annual Akwantukese Festival of the chiefs and people of the New Juaben Traditional Area which begun on 1st October, 2017 will reach its climax with a grand durbar of the chiefs and people at the Koforidua Jackson Park tomorrow Saturday, 28th October, 2017.
There will be procession of chiefs and elders through some principle streets of Koforidua before converging on the durbar grounds. Again, there will be an inauguration of the Akwantukese Education Board, unveiling of trophies for annual Akwantukese Quiz Competition at various educational levels, presentation of awards to all best students at primary, JHS and SHS, presentation of awards to three young engineers of All Nations University, who pioneered Ghana’s first satellite into space on 7th July, 2017, presentation of Daasebre Silver Jubilee Platinum, Gold, Bronze, and Bauxite Awards to some deserving individuals and organisations and presentation of Daasebre Award for Excellence as well as presentation of Daasebre Silver Jubilee Awards for Dedication.
Additionally, the New Juaben Traditional Council will also present distinctive awards to recognise contributions of companies, individuals and organisations towards the festival.
Daasebre @ 25
Events Preceding Daasebre Oti Boateng’s Enstoolment:
The Yiadom-Hwedie Royal Family, from which a Paramount Chief is chosen for either New Juaben or Asante Juaben, is a closely-knit royal family. Daasebre Professor Emeritus Oti Boateng is the uncle of Odehye Topen Siriboe, with Daasebre’s grandmother, Nana Akosua Kyem, and Odehye Topen’s great grandmother, Nana Ama Bonsu, being the daughters of one ancestress, Nana Akua Boatemaa.
When the New Juaben Stool became vacant in 1990 following the death of Daasebre Kwaku Boateng II, the Queenmother at the time approached Dr. Emmanuel Oti Boateng, a royal of the Yiadom-Hwedie Stool and the then Chief Government Statistician of Ghana on three occasions accompanied by the Gyaasehene, the late Asumenamuhene, and the Adahemaa, among others, to accept her decision to nominate him for election and installation as Paramount Chief of New Juaben State. It is on record that Dr. Oti Boateng initially declined the offer and that it took the intervention of several people including the late Queen of Ashanti, Nana Afua Kobi Ampem, to finally persuade him to accept the offer of nomination.
Following his nomination and unanimous acceptance by the Kingmakers, Dr. Oti Boateng was enstooled as the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional State on 26th October, 1992 with the Stool name—Daasebre Oti Boateng. For nearly 25 years he has led his people to great prosperity in the New Juaben Traditional Area.
Style of Leadership
Under the leadership of Daasebre Oti Boateng, standing orders have been promulgated for the New Juaben Traditional Council in order to ensure more effective regulation of the council’s affairs. Topics covered in the standing orders include the following: Place and Frequency of Meetings, General Conduct of Business, Motions and Amendments, Breaches of Order and Discipline, Appointment of Standing Committee and Membership.
In recognition of his sterling qualities, Daasebre Oti Boateng was bestowed with the National Honours Award of the Order of Officer of the Volta on 3rd July, 2008, “for his outstanding career in Public Service and Traditional Leadership.” Again, in a goodwill message at the 2008 Akwantukese Festival, the President of Livingston Chamber of Commerce in Western New York, United States, wrote, among others, “we honour the Omanhene for his able leadership and commitment to promote peace and strengthen unity among the chiefs and people of the New Juaben Traditional Area.”
Development
The reign of Daasebre Professor Oti Boateng has has seen massive developments in New Juaben Traditional Area.
Palace
The Omanhene’s Palace has undergone major structural changes and expanded facilities to make it one of the most modern in the country, attracting tourist from Ghana and abroad. The Palace is used continuously for all traditional and official functions. Important dignitaries to the New Juaben State are also received in the Palace.
New Juaben Development Board
Daasebre’s inspiring and visionary leadership brought together corporate executives, professionals and other eminent citizens of New Juaben to form the New Juaben Development Board in 2004 to ensure that appropriate structures are put in place for accelerated development, wealth creation and poverty reduction in the New Juaben State.
The board, in collaboration with the traditional council, set up a development fund in October 2005, which, among others, financially supports the youth and competent but needy students in the traditional area.
Chieftaincy Development
Daasebre has broken new grounds with the creation of a new Ntotoye Division which has received the approbation of the National House of Chiefs. This has positively responded to the numerous planning and protocol challenges facing the chieftaincy institution in Ghana and is expected to bring tradition and modernity in harmony.
Foreign Relations
Under the influential leadership of Daasebre, a high-powered delegation from New Juaben Traditional Area including the municipal chief executive, heads of educational institutions, professionals, and business executives paid a ten-day working visit to Livingston County Chamber of Commerce and Rochester City, Western New York, in 2008, which led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This is already generating viable, mutual beneficial relations between New Juaben and Western New York. It has led to the establishment of the New Juaben Chamber of Commerce for accelerated development.
Housing And Infrastructure
During the first five years of Daasebre’s reign, the traditional area also saw significant development including the upgrading of electricity supply, pavement of some roads and the construction of SSNIT Estates at Adweso. SSNIT has even completed a second phase of its housing project in the traditional area. Many more road and infrastructure projects have since been completed in the traditional area such as the 9 km dual-carriage by-pass from Mile 50 to Oyoko with full lighting facilities.
Health
During Daasebre’s reign, the Koforidua General Hospital has been renovated and upgraded to a Regional Hospital. Recently a 200-bed Orthopaedic Centre at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Effiduase, has been commissioned to add to the health facilities in the area.
Local Investments
There has been a massive expansion of new corporate businesses including the New Royal Mac Dic Plaza and Capital View Hotels to meet the demands of flourishing businesses in the area.
Education
Over 32 school buildings, libraries, teachers and nurses’ quarters, have been constructed during Daasebre’s reign. It is significant that during this period, two tertiary institutions—namely Koforidua Polytechnic and The All Nations University—have been established in the area. It is also worth mentioning that Daasebre is the Chancellor of The All Nations University.
By Franklin Asare-Donkoh
