09/03/2026
*The Little-Told Story of an Aboriginal Royal Family:
A Tribute to Odɛshe3 Nana Kwame Fosu Afriyie*
Patriarch of the Nkwaduano Yefretiti Royal Family of Wenchi
Nana. K. A. Busia, Jr.
The Nkwaduano and Sofoase Yefiri tete aboriginal royal families of Wenchi have scarcely finished wiping the tears from mourning their revered matriarch, Obaapanin Nana Nyarko, when they are once again called upon to mourn Abusuapanin Odɛshie Nana Kwame Fosu Afriyie, the last patriarch of that distinguished generation of Odɛshie of the two royal houses.
Nana Kwame Fosu Afriyie hailed from a family whose place in the history and traditions of Wenchi is both deep and distinguished. Yet, paradoxically, comparatively little has been written or widely told about this lineage. It is
therefore fitting to recount the historical background, albeit briefly for now, of the Nkwaduano royal family as a necessary prelude to this tribute.
*The Affection Between the Sofoase and the Nkwaduano Yefretiti Families*
As a child, I witnessed an incident that revealed the depth of kinship between the Sofoase and Nkwaduano families. Around 1970 or 1971, during a school vacation, I was visiting my maternal cousins at Labadi in Accra. One afternoon, a cousin and I decided to walk from Labadi to Osu to visit my aunt, Madame Ama Bame Busia,
who was then working and residing near the Castle.
As we walked along the road, we suddenly heard the unmistakable sirens that herald the approach of the prime ministerial convoy. Soon enough, the motorcade of Prime Minister Professor Kofi Busia appeared. Moments later, however, there was a brief disturbance among the security detail. The Prime Minister’s vehicle came to an abrupt halt while part of the motorcade had already proceeded toward the Castle from the Sgt. Adjetey intersection.
The Prime Minister’s security personnel beckoned to a woman walking ahead of us and invited her to join the Prime Minister in his car. I later recognized the woman we call at home simply as Sister Alice, a daughter of the Nkwaduano Yefre royal family.
This moment left a lasting impression on me. It demonstrated the deep familial regard that Professor Busia felt for the Nkwaduano family. They regarded each other not merely as acquaintances, but as kinsmen bound by shared lineage and history.
Indeed, while growing up in my father’s household, the name Wofa James (Nana Boateng)—a former Abusuapanin of the Nkwaduano Royal Family—was spoken with great reverence long after his passing. Though I never had the privilege of meeting him, his name was invoked only in serious matters and cited as a moral authority in the Sofoase Yefre/ Busia’s deliberations.
Abusuapanin Nana Afriyie himself maintained close relationships with Professor Busia, Ohenekessie Nana K**i Apea I, Nana Afia Frema Tartuo II and many others within the Busia lineage. They addressed each other affectionately as “menua”—siblings—and sat together on the same aye kete “funeral mat”, performing traditional rites together as members of the Yefretiti abusua.
*The Historical Foundations of the Sofoase–Nkwaduano Relationship*
The historical foundations of this relationship are deeply rooted in the early settlement history of Wenchi post the fall of Ahwene Koko, in 1746.
In his DPhil thesis, later published as the classic The Position of the Chief in the Modern Political System of Ashanti (1951), Professor Kofi Busia explains that seven indigenous clans settled in Wenchi, collectively referred to as Yefrefoɔ. Each clan settled under a particular tree and took its identity from that location. Among these were Ababa, Kyease, Siriaayefoɔ, and others. The Educationist C.E Donkor, in his book Busia and Nkrumah of Ghana, ( undated) also identify the same seven indigenous clans of Wenchi, from an original 77 before the fall of
Ahwene Koko.
However, among the seven clans, those who settled under the Sofoase and Nkwaduano trees came to be collectively known as Yefretitifoɔ. And, it is from these two families the Wenchi chiefs and queen mothers have historically been selected, marking them out as the aboriginal royal families of the Wenchi State, as
eloquently explained by Busia.
This historical account is corroborated by several scholars. In his seminal work, titled: Oral Traditions from Bono (1965), Kwabena Ameyaw identifies “Obaapanin Yaa Darkoa as the head of the Sofoase lineage of Asasa Odensie,” affirming the antiquity and aboriginal status of the Sofoase Yefreetiti family.
Ameyaw further records that during the reign of Nana Akua Frema Tatuo I, that some migrants from Kwadwo Krom in Asante, “descendants of one Abramo, were adopted into the royal ruling house of Sofoase”. Because of this historical continuity, the Sofoase lineage is frequently described in scholarly works as blood royals. Such a view is contained in the well -researched forth coming book by Nana Osei Kofi, titled: “ The Blood Royals”, 2026.
Similarly, David Apter, in his well-known study The Gold Coast in Transition, 1965, concluded the Sofoase Yefre royal family is widely regarded as the aboriginal royal lineage of Wenchi. Other historical accounts also support the view that originally only two royal families—Sofoase and Nkwaduano—constituted the ruling lineage of Wenchi until the Mid Nineteen century, when the additional lineage were adopted and became associated with the stool during the reign of Nana Frema Tatuo I.
*The Reign of Nana Nkatia Kwasi and the Legacy of Nkwaduano Yefre*
Abusuapanin Odɛshie Nana Kwame Fosu Afriyie was a direct descendant of Nana Nkatia Kwasi, who served as Wenchihene during the 1800’s, even before the reigns of Nana Ohene Gyan and Nana Frema, and certainly long before Kwadwo Abrefa I ( Kwadwo Denfa), was given the stool after Nana Frema Tartuo I, as chronicled by the historians, Kwabena Ameyaw, and the others.
Historical traditions credit Nana Nkatia Kwasi with several achievements during his reign. Even today, the Wenchi state sword bears his name—Afona Nkatia. This ceremonial sword is used when a Wenchihene or divisional chief publicly swears the oath affirming his authority.
During Nana Nkatia Kwasi’s reign, however, an incident occurred that had lasting consequences for the Nkwaduano lineage. A conflict arose between Wenchi and the Mansra Mo chief and his people. Although historians differ on the precise cause of the dispute, Nana Nkatia defeated the Mo chief and reportedly decapitated him. At the time, however, Wenchi functioned as a vassal state of the Asante Kingdom, and under Asante Law and Constitution, it was only that exercised the prerogative authority to declare war, and no other, even an Omanhene.
The reigning Asantehene, Nana K**i Boadum, therefore summoned Nana Nkatia Kwasi to answer for his action, of declaring a war Although he faced severe punishment, the sentence was mitigated. Nevertheless, the Asantehene decreed that the Nkwaduano lineage should temporarily be suspended from ascending the Yefretiti stool. Importantly, the Asantehene emphasized that the Nkwaduano family remained royal, the decree notwithstanding.
History later demonstrated this continuing recognition. When Nana Kwame Bene of Sofoase died in 1902, after returning from the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1900, Nana Kwasi Gyasi of the Nkwaduano family was eventually enstooled as Wenchihene. Since then, a customary balance evolved: whenever a Sofoase Wenchihene occupies the stool, the Abakomahene (Chief of Royals) is traditionally selected from the Nkwaduano lineage. The last person to hold that position was Nana Kwadwo Amisa, a direct uncle of Odɛshie Nana Afriyie.
*The Quiet Influence of the Nkwaduano Family*
While examining the Wenchi chieftaincy disputes of the 1950s, the political scientist David Apter wondered why comparatively little was known about the Nkwaduano royal family compared with the other two lineages—Sofoase and Ahenfie Yefre—which had been involved in prolonged disputes.
The explanation may lie partly in the historical circumstances surrounding Nana Nkatia Kwasi and partly in the longstanding tradition that Sofoase and Nkwaduano act together as the aboriginal royal families of Wenchi, Nkwaduano refers to Sofoase Yefre as nua adeshie panin, Senior Royals. Where one stands, the other stands beside it—whether in matters of traditional authority or national politics.
This spirit of that solidarity was also reflected in the life and conduct of Abusuapanin Nana Afriyie, as well as his forebearers before him, typified by Wofa James, they call him, aka Nana Boateng.
*The Life and Public Service of Nana Afriyie*
Odɛshie Kwame Fosu Afriyie completed his education in 1950 and went on to serve in various administrative capacities, including work associated with the office of a District Commissioner.
Later, he became actively involved in local and national political life, working alongside Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, Master Kwofie, and his in-law Mr. Boansi in matters relating to the Progress Party.
During the Busia administration, Nana Afriyie was appointed to a senior position connected with the implementation of the government’s visionary programme on rural housing and cottage industries, one of the flagship development initiatives of the Progress Party government.
Following the military coup of 1972, he was arrested along with many others associated with that administration. Yet Nana remained undeterred. In 1982, he once again dedicated himself to public service through involvement in local government and assembly affairs. Throughout his life, Nana Afriyie was known as an educator, a statesman, a staunch defender of tradition and culture, and above all a devoted family man.
He raised his children with discipline and pride. One of his sons, Dr. Afriyie, later served as Municipal Chief Executive of Wenchi. Nana leaves behind 15 children and more than 50 grandchildren, all of whom carry forward his legacy.
Odɛshie Nana Kwame Fosu Afriyie will be remembered as a fearless defender of the Sofoase and Nkwaduano Yefiri tetefoɔ as the aboriginal royal families of Wenchi.
He stood firmly for the dignity of tradition, the unity of the royal lineage, and the preservation of Wenchi’s historical heritage. He belonged to a generation that carried tradition with quiet strength, defended family honour with dignity, and served society with commitment.
With his passing, an era has come to a close. But his memory will remain woven into the history of Wenchi and the enduring story of the Yefretiti aboriginal royal lineages.
Damirifa due. Odɛshie kai, yɛbɛkae wo daa.
Nana K. A Busia, Jr*
Ass Professor, Public International law
School of Advanced Studies, University of London, &
Former Senior Legal & Policy Advisor, UN.
