“But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as one who serves” -Luke 22-26
PERHAPS UNBEKNOWNST to Nana Otuo Siriboe II is the fact that it is his humility which has endeared him to many people in Ghana. When word reached us that Nana was celebrating his 50th anniversary on the throne of Juaben, we were gingered to attend “in our numbers.”
By 11am on Tuesday, 31st August, the venue, Professor Adu Boahen Square in Juaben which had recently been inaugurated was filled to capacity. It was not easy counting heads: suffice it to say the clergy were well represented: Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Dr. Kwasi Sarpong, and Anglican Archbishop Professor Sarfo Yinkah looking hale and hearty; Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah; Ministers of State- Osafo-Maafo, Honourable Osei Kyei Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah, Honourable Owusu Afriyie Akoto, The IGP, Dr. Dampare…
The council of state was very well represented: Sam Okudzeto, still as handsome as ever; E. T. Mensah sporting his silvery hair… the NDC was represented: Johnson Asiedu Nketiah was there in his immaculate white “bubu” and he received a loud applause by a section of the crowd. We remembered what Caesar said to Antony: “Let me have men about me that are fat. Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o’nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous”.
As for the chiefs, their variegated Kente cloths were captivating.
There were goodwill messages: from the Juaben Traditional Council, Nana’s Secondary School (Opoku Ware, Achimota) classmates who reminded us about Nana’s deep knowledge of Classics and Latin.
The Council of State’s message was read by veteran Sam Okudzeto who extolled Nana’s virtues which included his sound advice and guidance. Other goodwill messages were from various chiefs and the KNUST alumni.
Nana’s address was terse and succinct. He was equally grateful to his family for his upbringing; he was equally grateful to his almae matres: Opoku Ware, Achimota, KNUST for the training he received. He had useful advice for the youth – be respectful and follow custom.
Nana Otuo Siribue II, born Peter Boakye Amponsah trained as an electric engineer at KNUST, and graduated in 1969. After a brief job as an engineer, he was installed as the paramount chief of Juaben traditional Area, aged only 26, in 1971.
Nana has a great experience in agriculture, business, and governance. His business acumen guided him to establish the Juaben Oil Mills Factory, employing almost 500 workers. This is by far the largest privately – owned oil palm processing facility.
He has spent the fifty years on the throne to serve his nation in several capacities. In 1979 he was a Member of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1979 Third Republican Constitution, repeating this position in 1992. He has been a member of several boards and Councils: Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Board; Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Board; Ghana Prisons Council; Ghana Trade Fair Authority; Lands Commission; Anglogold. During Kufuor’s 8 year rule Nana was a member of the Council of State i.e. 2001 to 2009. In Akufo-Addo’s first term, he was made Chairman of the Council of State, being voted for again as Chairman in the second term. It is significant to note that it was Sam Okudzeto who nominated him, to be seconded by not less than 10 of the 25 membership. The Council of State is a body of distinguished persons who are mandated under Articles 89-92 of the 1992 Constitution to advise the President on national issues. (Article 89 of the 1992 Constitution states: “There shall be a Council of State to counsel the President in the performance of his functions”). In accepting his unanimous approval as Chairman of the Council, Nana promised to publish its annual report of its activities to highlight its consultations with the Executive, Legislature and other state departments. He is credited with helping in the re-engineering of the operations of the Council of State which culminated in the passage of the Council of State Act, 2020 (Act 1037) to which the President gave his assent on 23rd December, 2020.
He is a kingpin in the success story of Asanteman and when Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was making his historic visit to the Seychelles Island, Nana Otuo Sisboe accompanied him and took part in discussions between the Asantehene and Seychelles’ President, James Michel.
In 2003, KNUST, Nana’s alma matter awarded him an honorary doctorate degree (honoris causa) in recognition of his remarkable leadership in traditional governance and also his contribution to agriculture and agro-industrial business.
In 2007, the government of Ghana conferred on Nana the Order of the Star of Ghana, the highest award the state bestows to persons who have distinguished themselves in their various areas of endeavour.
You will be impressed by the facilities and improvements in the town. The Juaben Senior High School has been given a face-lift; so have the hospital, the Circuit Court, and the Police Station. Almost all the streets in the town have been asphalted. In all these, the influence of Nana Otuo Siriboe cannot be discounted.
It must be with great effort and strong prayers that Nana has traversed this 50 years in peace. It is a remarkable achievement by all standards, global: George III of UK celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his rule in October, 1809. Queen Elizabeth did same in 2002.
He has ordered his life perfectly to the Hobbesian “social contract” theory – implicit agreement among members of a society and the ruler. Don’t be jealous of us when we say: Venimus a Juaben (We come from Juaben) because our progenitor had a concubine there.
And anyone who thinks “chieftaincy” has lost its appeal should have faced the fifty-year rule of Nana Otuo Siriboe II. Emeritus Archbishop Peter Kwasi Sarpong summed this up in the homily: “At a time when people thought chieftaincy had lost its usefulness, Nana Siriboe has, by his life corroborated the view that a chief is as useful today as he was yesterday… he is a model of a chief who prefers to serve his people to being served by them…”
In Aeneid Book 1, Juno, the queen of Heaven hated the Trojans led by Aeneas. When she saw the fleet of Aeneas on its way to Italy, after the sack of Troy by the Greeks she planned to scatter same by using strong winds. So strong was her determination, she cried out: “Incepto ne desistam”, meaning: “May I not shrink from my purpose”. We want to believe that deep inside our hero, Nana Otuo Siriboe, he may be praying: “May I not shrink from my purpose”. And what is his purpose? For God to guide him to always give good advice to the President for progress in the nation, knowing full well that “Deus lux Scientiae” (God is the light of knowledge”). He, certainly, is a Katakyie, a conquering hero.
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From Africanus Owusu-Ansah