Barima Kwaku Duah – Middle Addressing the media with the committee members
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will on Thursday, August 23, 2018 join Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, sub-chiefs and natives of Okyeman at Kyebi in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region to mark the 75th Anniversary of the death of Okyenhene Nana Sir Ofori Atta.
The head of all grandchildren of Nana Sir Ofori Atta, Barima Kwaku Dua, made these known at a media briefing on Monday at the forecourt of the Ofori Panin Fie at Kyebi to outline activities put in place to mark the major event.
Barima Kwaku Dua, who is the chairman of the Planning Committee, disclosed that activities for the week-long celebration include memorial lecture to be held in Accra, launch of exhibition by the Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin on 22nd August, 2018 and grand durbar that would be graced by the chiefs and people of Okyeman.
He noted that the Kyebi High Court would be named after Nana Sir Ofori Atta next week at a ceremony to be chaired by Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo.
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I was the Omanhene of Akyem Abuakwa, one of the largest and wealthiest kingdoms in the then Gold Coast Colony until his death in 1943.
The Okyeman Kanea, Professor Robert Yaw Addo-Fening, who highlighted the historical achievement of the late Nana Sir Ofori Atta, told the media that Nana Sir Ofori Atta brought about a unitary state structure in Okyemen, adding that the life of the illustrious son is worth celebrating.
He disclosed that the late Nana Sir Ofori Atta was the native governor of the local states in Gold Coast which most Ghanaians did not know.
According to Professor Addo-Fening, Nana Sir Ofori Atta also championed cocoa production and led a delegation from the Eastern Region to holds talks with the government to fight for the rights of farmers and civil servants in 1918.
Ofori Atta was educated in Basel Mission School and its Akropong Seminary.
He worked as a clerk and served in the West African Frontier Force which fought during the Yaa Asantewaa War.
After his installment as Omanhene of Akyem Abuakwa in 1912, he became the second African member of the Legislative Council in 1916 to represent the Gold Coast.
The first African member of the Legislative Council was Torgbui Sri II, KMAC, OBE, CBE, the Awoamefia of Anlo, known in private life as Cornelius Kofi Kwawukume from the Adzorvia Royal Family.
He adopted educational modernism and aristocratic nepotism in politics and created the Ofori-Atta Dynasty by promoting education among his children.
Family
He was the brother of Dr J. B. Danquah, a founder of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and father of Aaron Ofori-Atta, the fourth Speaker of Parliament, who also served as Minister of Communications and Minister of Local Government, Adeline Akufo-Addo, First Lady under the Second Republic, William Ofori Atta, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and presidential candidate of UNC, Dr Akwasi Amoako-Atta, Governor of Bank of Ghana and Finance Minister under the First Republic, Dr Jones Ofori-Atta, who served as Deputy Minister of Finance and Susan Ofori-Atta, the first female doctor in Ghana.
He was the grandfather of President Akufo-Addo, Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin and Ken Ofori-Atta, the current Finance Minister, who is the founder of Databank Group.
The colorful but brief ceremony was graced by some of the chiefs of the Okyeman Traditional Council.
From Daniel Bampoe, Koforidua