THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILT

In the year 1875, King Asafo Agyei of Juaben, Asante, had to flee from invading Asante forces and cross the River Pra, to safer grounds in Akyem territory, in present day Eastern region of Ghana. A year before, in 1874, Asante empire forces had been defeated in the ‘Sagrenti’ war against the British colonial government, supported by troops from India, as well as tribal allies from Ghana, the Fantes and Denkyiras, and led by Sir Garnet Wolsley. This shook the Asante kingdom. as they had won two previous wars against the British colonial government. This time, the British introduced the machine gun, which was a game changer. This led to the Asantehene, Kofi Karikari, being destooled and replaced by King Mensa Bonsu. Some Asante states, like Kokofu and Bekwai declared independence from the Asante alliance. Together with chiefs of Asokore, Affidwase and Nsuta, Juaben formed an independent kingdom, led by King Asafo Adjei of Juaben. It must be noted that Juaben was one of the biggest and strongest states in the Asante alliance. Juaben and Kumasi were the two strongest states in the alliance. With the king of Kumasi gaining the leadership of the Asante kingdom and enjoying the title of Asantehene, there was inevitable suspicion and occasional rivalry between the two, Kumasi and Juaben. Juaben had been a self-standing kingdom for two centuries before the Asante grand alliance under King Osei Tutu, in the 1700s. At the height of its power, the Asante Kingdom covered almost all present-day Ghana, part of Cote D’Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) and part of the nation of Togo. The Juaben king always played a vital role in the expansion the Asante kingdom. The confidence and strength of the Juaben nation posed a hidden challenge to the Asantehene, as happens in such alliances of strong men. In the 1830s, for instance, the Juabens, under King Kwasi Boateng, had crossed the Pra River, in self-exile, to enjoy the lavish hospitality of the Akyems, after a misunderstanding with Asantehene. The Juabens later returned from exile to their homeland in Asante when peace was restored with the Asantehene. After the destoolment of King Kofi Karikari, and enstoolment of King Mensa Bonsu in Kumasi in 1874, King Mensah Bonsu was able to convince some of the new independent states to re-join the Asante alliance. Juaben, however, stood its ground and refused to re-join the alliance. Asante attacked and defeated Juaben, which necessitated the great exodus across the River Pra back into Akyem land, popularly referred to as ‘Akwantu Kese’ by the Juabens, literally meaning, ‘The Great Journey’. On this journey, there was an Offinso royal, who would have been just a toddler or a little girl, called AMA POKUA. She is the grand matriarch and heroine of this book. As Ama Pokua put her tiny hand into her Mum, Boatemaa’s hand, as they began this hundred-mile plus journey on foot, little did she know that 150 years down the line, her grandchildren and great grandchildren will be celebrating her in a book. Her seed has multiplied. Her ‘blood’ now runs through the veins of many, old and young. When she looks down from her lofty place in heaven, she would see clergy, educators, businessmen, doctors, nurses, soldiers, engineers, lawyers, civil servants, politicians and many other professions claiming to have enjoyed the milk from her breasts. Her descendants are spread out to all the continents on planet earth. We continue to multiply. Enjoy the rich and enjoyable history and photos in this book. Long live the Pokua-Ossei family.