After over 70 years of misunderstanding: Diaso returns to Denkyiraman

The Chiefs and the people of Diaso in the Upper Denkyira West District have formally returned to the ‘Kingdom’ of Denkyira, which is their ancestral home, after staying away for over 70 years following a misunderstanding.

The return of Diaso, to be part of Denkyiraman, followed a series of fruitful discussions and engagements spearheaded by the Denkyira Hemaa, Nana Ama Ayensua Saraa III.

Following their return, an extraordinary traditional and customary rites were performed on Sunday at Jukwato pacify the gods of the land and the forebears of Denkyira, to officially recognise the return of Diaso to the Denkyira ‘Kingdom’.

The colourful ceremony, which was full of cultural and traditional rituals, coincided with the observation of the first Akwaside? for the year 2024, and was fully attended by chiefs, queen mothers and other traditional rulers, including the Omanhen of Effutu, Neenyi Ghartey VII.

Denkyira Hemaa’s remarks

Speaking at the occasion, Denkyira Hemaa, Nana Ama Ayensua Saara III, stated that modern traditional rulers did not need a united front to fight in tribal wars as was the case in the ages past.

However, she noted that it was still relevant that all Denkyira people around the country recognised their ancestral root and come together under one umbrella in the spirit of oneness to tell their story and history to the world.

This, she explained, was the reason behind her resolve to bring Denkyiras who are scattered all over Ghana to have a united front as one people to champion their development.

She praised the Omanhen of Effutu, Neenyi Ghartey, for his leadership role and being the mediator who led negotiations on behalf of the chiefs and people of Diaso, for their return to be part of Denkyira.

She welcomed the initiative and passionately appealed to Denkyiraman to embrace the new wind of peaceful atmosphere around Denkyira and smoke the peace pipe together for accelerated development that would uplift Denkyira’s image.

Background to the issue

According to the history of Denkyiraman, Nana Kodia of Diaso was very instrumental in traditional wars fought and won by Nana Kwadwo Tsibu I, during the colonial era, where traditional rulers fought tribal and ethnic wars to conquer territories,

Nana Kodia was said to have supported Nana Tsibu I who reigned between the period of (1813 and 1851) to fight the people of Wassa and Aowin who sought to conquer parts of the famous Denkyira Kingdom.

Nana Tsibu, in recognition of Nana Kodia’s significant role, conferred the Adonten title of the great Denkyira Kingdom on him for his spirited fight, which enabled the Denkyira’s to defeat the intruders in defence of their ‘Denkyira’ territories.

Emergence of misunderstanding

In respect of this, Diaso officially became the Adonten of the great Denkyira Kingdom and the title was carried by any other chief who ruled after Nana Kodia until the eruption of a  misunderstanding, which occurred during the period of Nana Owusu Bori II, who ruled the people of Denkyira from 1942-1953.

The misunderstanding continued until the reigns of Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III, who ruled as the paramount chief of Denkyira between 1953 and 2015.

According to lawyer Emmanuel K. Nanah, who is the legal advisor to the Denkyira Hemaa, the late Odeefou Boa Amponsem III tried to mend the crack when he took over as the Denkyiraman Hene, but his efforts went unrewarded.

He said, “Odeefuo invited the Diaso Hene in an effort to resolve the long ranging issue so that Jukwa, Diaso and Dunkwa as well as any other Denkyira state could live together as one people.

However, the Diaso Hene at the time declined the series of invitations extended to him by Odeefou so what happened finally was that the Odeefuo Amponsem took away the Adonten title from Diaso and traditional rites and other rituals were performed to that effect”.

He added; “So since that time up till date, Diaso has ceased to be the Adonten of Denkyira as the title was transferred to Denkyira Obuasi by the Odeefou Boa Amponsem III”.

It is on record that Denkyira Obuasi, which is now known as New Obuasi, has been the Twafo of  Denkyira, but was given additional responsibility to act as Adonten, when the titled was taken away from Diaso.

Reconciliation and reunion

Following the successful performance of rituals and rites, Lawyer Nanah explained that a durbar would be held at a later date during a traditional council meeting at Dunkwa in respect of the move by Diaso.

He indicated that at the meeting, Diaso would be officially accepted and welcomed to be part of Denkyiraman and would be given the Adonten Title of Denkyira, as it was originally the case.

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