BRIEF HISTORY OF BECHEM TRADITIONAL AREA
INTRODUCTION:
The
Bechem Traditional area is made up of the following towns and their
villages: Bechem, Dwomo, Terchire and Tanoso. These towns together are
known as “ATANOFO AKROTUONNAN”.
The
Atanofo is a fetish unification of Tano Bekoe for Bechem; Dwomo Kukuo
for Dwomo; Boobae for Terchire and Asubonten Tano for Tanoso. All these
fetishes were created by Okomfo Anokye to protect the Golden Stool of
Asante in times of war, especially against attacks from the north.
Bechemhene is the head and custodian of these fetishes.
ORIGIN OF THE BECHEM STOOL:
The Bechem Stool which is known as the ASIWOBOUR Stool belongs to the Adako Oyoko clan.
The
royal clan of Bechem migrated from Asante Nsuta as a result of a
chieftancy dispute which killed some of the members of the family.
The
faction led by Obofuo Afoakwa and his brother Fosu Ahwenie left Asante
Nsuta and settled at a place near some palm trees and called the new
settlement: “ABEKYEASE”. They were followed by brothers Asimpa and
Kwasi Kakyire as well as their sisters Otuakram Agyaako, Amma Adutwiwaa
and Appia Mansa.
Fosu Ahwenie’s brother, Bofuo Afoakwa who was a hunter moved and settled near River Tano and named the place “Tanoso”
Bofuo
Afoakwa, who was also an oracle consultant, became the chief of
Abekyease and Tanoso. He had to shuttle between Tanoso and Abekyease
every Akwasidae to perform customary rites. Nana Bofoakwa, as he came
to be called, took part in the Dormaa war.
ORIGIN OF BECHEM:
After
the war over Dormaa, Nana Osei Tutu I and his victorious war leaders
sat to share their booty or spoils at Abekyease. The chiefs are told to
have said, “We shall divide our booty here” (yebekye mu wo ha) hence,
the name Bechem. After the Gyaman war with Abo Kofi too, the war booty
was shared at Bechem. That is how Abekyease became known as Bechem and
has been called to this day!
ORIGIN OF THE ASIWOBOUR STOOL:
Nana Osei Tutu I and Okomfo Anokye visited Tanoso and invoked a deity from the River Tano. The deity was named ‘Tano Bekoe’ and became one of the deities which helped to bring victory in the Asante wars.
Okomfo
Anokye commanded that, human beings should be sacrificed for the deity
every year. However, during the reign of the third chief of Bechem,
Asiwobour Asimpa Apraku, he gathered courage and travelled to Kumase to
request Nana Osei Tutu I to replace the human sacrifice with the
sacrifice of rams.
This
was a bold step taken by Nana Asimpa Apraku to ensure steady population
growth for development. Nana Osei Tutu I granted the request and gave
him the title ‘ASIWBOUR’ in appreciation for his courage and bravery.
This is how the Bechem stool came to be known as the ‘ASIWBOUR’ STOOL.
SUCCESSION AND ACHIEVEMENT OF CHIEFS:
Nana
Bofuo Afoakwa (Bofoakwa) was the first chief and took part in the
Dormaa war after which the booty was shared at Abekyease which came to
be called Bechem. He was succeeded by his brother Nana Fosu Ahwenie who
took part in the Denkyira war of liberation.
Nana
Fosu Ahwenie was succeeded by his brother Asiwobour Asimpa Apraku whose
courage and bravery won the accolade Asiwobour for the Bekyem stool.
Nana
Asiwobour Asimpa Apraku was succeeded by Nana Akoma Mpete during the
reign of Nana Opoku Ware I. Nana Akoma Mpete took part in all the wars
fought by Nana Opoku Ware I which included the Akyem war, Takyiman war
and the Gyaman war with Abo Kofi.
Nana
Akoma Mpete was succeeded by Nana Kwasi Kaakyire during the reign of
Asantehene Nana Obodom. Nana Kwasi Kaakyire was succeeded by Nana Fosu
Gyeabour I during the reign of Asantehene Nana Osei Kwadwo. Nana Fosu
Gyeabour took part in all wars fought by the Asantes during the reign
of Nana Osei Kwame Asibe Kwadwo which included the Wassa, Banda and
Dagomba wars. His bravery earned him the title ‘Gyeabour’, that is, one
who received bullets. Nana Fosu Gyeabour was also on the Bechem stool
during the reign of Asantehene Nana Osei Kwame Panin.
Nana
Fosu Gyeabour I was succeeded by Nana Kwabena Asuatemo during the reign
of Nana Osei Kwame Panin. He was still the chief of Bechem when Nana
Opoku Fofie was enstooled as Asantehene.
Nana
Kwabena Asuatemo was succeeded by Nana Yaw Boampon I during the reign
of Nana Osei Kwame Asibe Bonsu. Nana Yaw Boampon I took part in the
Fante War of 1806, The Coastal Campaign of 1811 and the Coastal
Campaign of 1814.
Nana
Yaw Boampon I was succeeded by Nana Kwaku Yeboa who led Bechem troops
during the Adinkra war of 1817 and commanded the Bechem troops in the
Nsamankor war. He was also the chief of Bechem during the reign of Nana
Osei Yaw Akoto and fought in the Dodowa war of 1827. Nana Kwaku Yeboa
was still on the stool of Bechem when Nana Kwaku Dua I was enstooled as
Asantehene.
Nana
Kwaku Yeboa was succeeded by Nana Kofi Mensa I during the reign of Nana
Kwaku Dua I. He ruled for about 16 years and passed away.
Nana
Kofi Mensa I was succeeded by Nana Yaw Amponsa who took part in the
Kwasi Gyenin’s war of 1863. Nana Yaw Amponsa was the chief of Bechem
when Nana Kofi Karikari became the Asantehene in 1867 and took part in
the Krepi war of 1869, the coastal campaign of 1873 and the Sagrente
war of 1874.
Nana
Yaw Amponsa was succeeded by Nana Akwasi Boampon during the reign of
the Asantehene Nana Mensa Bonsu. Nana Akwasi Boampon and his people
fought on the side of Kumase during the civil war between Dwaben and
Kumase. Bechem under the leadership of Nana Akwasi Boampon, did not
rebel against Nana Mensa Bonsu, the Asantehene.
Nana
Kwaku Fosu fought on the side of Nana Yaa Asantewaa in the war of 1900.
He was among the chiefs who decided to fight the governor. After the
war he was deported to the Seychelles Island.
Nana Kwaku Fosu was succeeded by Nana Kwame Amponsa who ruled Bechem from 1900 to 1905 when he was destooled.
Nana Kwame Amponsa was succeeded by Nana Yaw Boampon II who ruled from 1905 to 1917 when he passed away.
Nana Yaw Boampon II was succeeded by Nana Kwadwo who ruled Bechem from 1917 to 1924 and was destooled.
Nana
Kwadwo Badu was succeeded by Nana Kofi Twene Mensa who was among the
chiefs who welcomed Nana Prempe I when he returned from Seychelles
Island on 12 November, 1924.
Nana
Twene Mensah was destooled in 1931 and was succeeded by Nana Kwabena
Behome who ruled Bechem from 1931 to 1933. It was during his reign that
Nana Prempe II was enstooled as Asantehene.
Nana
Kwabena Behome died on the stool in 1933 and was succeeded by Nana Fosu
Gyeabour II in 1934. It was during the reign of Nana Fosu Gyeabour II
that the Asante Confederacy was restored. He was among the paramount
chiefs of Asante who swore the oath of allegiance to Nana Prempeh II on
1st February, 1935. He ruled Bechem from 1934 to 1967 when he abdicated because of political pressure.
Nana Fosu Gyeabour II was succeeded by Nana Asiwbour Gyamfi in 1967 and ruled from 1967 to 1997 when he passed away.
Nana
Asiwbour Gyamfi was succeeded by Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, the
current chief, in the year 2000. A well-known saying of Nana Fosu
Gyeabour Akoto II who is the current Chairman of the Education
Committee of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs is that “in the
ancient times, chiefs developed their areas through wars, but in these
modern times, development is possible only through quality and holistic
education”. Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II in council with Nananom
introduced the ADEKYEM FESTIVAL.
The current Queen mother of Bechem is called Nana Adwoapo Dwamena Serwaa II.
OCCUPANTS OF THE BECHEM (ASIWBOUR) STOOL AND THEIR QUEEN MOTHERS
The
oath of Bechem state is “MEKA MPETE NE BREME”. It reminds the chiefs
and people of the tragedy that befell their beloved chief when he
contracted the disease known as mpete and was sent to Breme (the
village he founded for his wife Nana Akyiaa Tafo) where he died.
OCCUPANTS OF THE BECHEM (ASIWBOUR) STOOL AND THEIR QUEEN MOTHERS
S/№
|
NAME
|
PERIOD
|
NAME OF QUEEN MOTHER
|
1
|
Nana Bofoakwa
|
Not available
| |
2
|
Nana Fosu Ahwenie
|
1689-1706
|
Nana Adwoa Po Dwamena I
|
3
|
Nana Asiwbour Asimpa Apraku
|
1706-1719
| |
4
|
Nana Akoma Mpetee (Mpetia)
|
1719-1743
|
Nana Akosua Gyamera
|
5
|
Nana Kwasi Kaakyire
|
1743-1765
|
Nana Akosua Agyaa
|
6
|
Nana Fosu Gyeabour I
|
1765-1792
|
Nana Yaa Fosuaa
|
7
|
Nana Kwabena Asuantemo
|
1792-1800
|
Nana Akosua Dwera
|
8
|
NanaYaw Boampon I
|
1800-1815
| |
9
|
Nana Kwaku Yeboa
|
1815-1839
| |
10
|
Nana Kofi Mensah
|
1839-1855
|
Nana Afia Akyiaa Niana
|
11
|
NanaYaw Amponsa
|
1855-1874
| |
12
|
Nana Akwasi Boampon
|
1874-1889
|
Nana Amuaa Niana
|
13
|
Nana Yaw Mosie
|
1889-1895
| |
14
|
Nana Kwaku Fosu
|
1895-1900
| |
15
|
Nana Kwame Amponsa
|
1900-1905
|
Nana Akosua Konadu
|
16
|
Nana Yaw Boampon II
|
1905-1917
| |
17
|
Nana Kwadwo Badu
|
1917-1924
|
Nana Yaa Donkor Bagyina
|
18
|
Nana Kofi Mensa (Twene Mensa)
|
1924-1931
| |
19
|
Nana Kwabena Behome
|
1931-1933
| |
20
|
Nana Fosu Gyeabour II
|
1934-1967
| |
21
|
Nana Asiwbour Gyamfi
|
1967-1997
|
Nana Afia Akyiaa II
|
22
|
Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II
|
2000 -
|
Nana Adwoa Po Dwamena Serwaa II
|
