Indigenes of Ashweniagmor, one of the villages under the Ngleshie Alata paramountcy, on Saturday bade their first chief, Nii Okai Kwaofio I, farewell after two years of reign.
The funeral saw indigenes adorned with black and red to honour the late chief who died on January 7, 2024. The Asafoatsemei, clad in smocks and other traditional regalia with different talismans around their necks, hands, and legs, numbering over 20, ensured tight security during the funeral rites, while some chiefs exhibited their traditional dancing prowess at the funeral grounds.
The late chief was laid in state, allowing mourners, traditional leaders of adjoining communities, and political party leaders to pay their last respects. After several hours of rituals which witnessed the slaughtering of a male goat, with its blood sprinkled on the coffin to signify the end of Nii Okai Kwaofio’s reign in the community, local musketeers put on an impressive display before, during, and after the burial.
The late chief, in a coffin, was carried shoulder high in procession through the Ashweniagmor township and finally laid to rest in a sacred cemetery.
Ahead of the final burial ceremony, Nii Armaah Kwafio ll, Chief of Armaa Man/ Acting President of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area, called for calm in the community, urging them to accord equal respect to the incoming chief.
According to him, the late Nii Okai Kwaofio I was known for his humility and respect for service in the community, “his eagerness to seek developmental projects for his community was unmatched, due to that he was loved by many who knew his works. My advice to the community and the yet-to-be sworn chief is to always seek counsel and ensure that there is peace in the community.”
Nii Armaah Kwafio ll further pledged his unflinching support to the community, stating that his doors are open for developmental consultation, one that will lead to growth in the community.
Nii Okai Kwaofio, also known as Mr. Seth Okine, was born on January 3, 1967, at Asikasu near Asamankese in the Eastern Region. His parents were Nuumo Tetteh Kofi and Auntie Ayele Armah from the Ngleshie Amanfro community. After his father’s passing, his elder brother, R.T. Okine, took him to Accra, where he began his education at Cambridge Preparatory School.
He later attended Asamankese Secondary School and obtained his GCE O-Level certificate. He proceeded to Kwadaso Agric College and was subsequently employed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Nii Okai Kwaofio I worked as an Extension Officer at Juaso and Konongo in the Ashanti Region. He married Madam Josephine Attoh Okine and had seven children. In November 2021, the elders of Ashweniagmor community, in consultation with Nii Armaah Kwafio ll enstooled him as Nii Okai Kwaofio I. The event was marked by a grand durbar.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke