Oheneba Adusei Poku

In explaining the significance and philosophy of the Akyempim Stool, Oheneba Adusei Poku said, “Based on the strategy to defend the Golden Stool and the Asantehene or Otumfuo who occupies the stool at any point in time, our founding fathers Opemsuo Osei-Tutu and Okomfo Anokye designed a chieftaincy system founded on a military strategy. With the Asantehene as the Commander-In-Chief, the militaristic chieftaincy system was structured with several strategic components. We have the Akyempimhene, which is the rearguard of the Asantehene. The rearguard provided the shield of defence from behind as the Kontirehene did from the front- so the Asantehene could not move without him… The significance of the Akyempem stool is that it was purposely created and reserved for the sons-like myself- and grandsons of an Asantehene. This is so because, among other reasons, no son or grandson of the King can claim or qualify to be made an Asantehene since the ascent to the throne is matrilineal. Being the rearguard, thus, the backbone and being constituted by the sons and grandsons of the King the Akyempim stool needed to be occupied by a loyal close relation. If the King could count on your loyalty because you are from within his blood, then he was sure to be safe. That is why we are called the Akyempim because we are what we call ‘Ekyem’ (shield) for protection.”

A Prince, Lawyer and Distinguished Diplomat

Oheneba Adusei Poku (Nana Osei-Tutu Poku) was born on 12th May 1947 to Mr. Jacob Matthew Poku (Otumfuo Opoku Ware II; 1970 – 1999, 15th King of Ashanti) and Nana Akua Afriyie (Lady Victoria) in Kumasi. He was the oldest of five (5) children and the only male child born to Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. With Otumfuo Opoku Ware II being a staunch Christian of the Anglican denomination, he taught Oheneba the values of Christianity and reverence for the Almighty at an early age. In addition to his steadfast faith, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II was an astute scholar, renowned lawyer and a reputable building surveyor. Thus, he took a keen interest in shaping Oheneba’s educational pursuits and professional career.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Growing up in Ashanti New Town (Ashtown) during the 1950s, Young Oheneba Adusei Poku learned the values of respect and tolerance he received from his strict but loving mother and liberal father who was usually tempered in his dealings with his children. As the eldest and only male child, Oheneba would eventually grow to become a close confidant of his father.

He always said, “My father and I were very close,” … “I was the only son, so he felt that he should take me into his confidence because there were some things that he wouldn’t want to disclose to anybody.”

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

At Methodist Primary and Middle School (“K.O.”), Oheneba learned several life values including patriotism and compassion, and hard work. In 1961, following a successful common entrance examination, Oheneba gained admission to Prempeh College for his secondary education from Form One through to Upper Six where he studied Arts – History, Geography and Literature among other subjects. His diligence and discipline led him to be elected in the Sixth Form as the Assistant Head Prefect.

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (LEGON) YEARS

Oheneba sat for the A-Level examinations in 1968 leading him to pursue law at the University of Ghana. Shortly before his enrolment his father, Jacob Matthew Poku was appointed Commissioner (Minister) for Transport and Communication by the National Liberation Council (NLC) government. With this appointment, Oheneba’s family relocated to Accra just as he embarked on his undergraduate studies. He was inducted to the Junior Common Room and accommodated in Akuafo Hall, a badge he wore with pride even in his adult years. Among his mates and friends at the Faculty of Law, are some leading members of the Bar and the Bench including Justices of the Supreme Court, notably Justice Sophia Akuffo (former Chief Justice) and Justice Sophia Adinyira. His favourite lecturers were Justice Dixon Kwame Afreh and Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (former president of the Republic of Ghana) who taught them Criminal Law and Commercial Law respectively.

Sometime in early 1970, Oheneba’s father visited him at Legon to inform him that the new government of the Progress Party, led by Prime Minister Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, had appointed him as an Ambassador Designate to Italy and that the family needed to transition into his new role. However, a few weeks after this visit, Otumfuo Sir Agyeman Prempeh II passed away on 27 May 1970. Recalling this frenzied episode, Oheneba’s own words read:

“Shortly after the passing of my granduncle, I received an emissary from my father with a message that his appointment to travel to Italy had been withdrawn and that the Queen Mother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko II Asantehemaa, had nominated him, and the Asanteman Council had approved that he should succeed Otumfuo Sir Agyeman Prempeh II. That’s how I got the hugely surprising news. It just came out of the blue and it was the most exciting period for my family.”

On 27 July 1970, Mr. Jacob Matthew Poku was enstooled as the 15th Asantehene with the stool name, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.

One of Oheneba’s unforgettable memories in his undergraduate days was when his father, the newly installed Asantehene after attending a Council of State meeting in Accra, led an embassage of chiefs, high political government officials and business magnates to the University of Ghana to pay a surprise visit to Oheneba. Suffice it to say the retinue of Otumfuo commanded the sort of protocol reserved for Heads of State. And as Oheneba recounted, “That was when I became so popular on campus.”

Oheneba Adusei Poku completed his undergraduate law degree in 1971 and was subsequently called to the Bar in 1973. At the time of his Bar Call, he had gained admission to further his education in the United States of America.

FURTHER STUDIES IN AMERICA

Soon after his professional Bar Call in 1973, Oheneba Adusei Poku commenced his further studies with a dual postgraduate master’s degree program at the Harvard Law School and Tufts University at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy located at Medford in Massachusetts. He received his M.A. and M.A.L.D. degrees in ‘Law and International Affairs and Diplomacy’. Due to his commitment to academic excellence, he was selected to pursue a doctoral program under the supervision of Professor W. Scott Thompson, the renowned international relations scholar and author of Ghana’s Foreign Policy, 1957-1966.

Under Professor Thompson’s guidance, Oheneba specialized in African diplomacy and successfully defended his thesis titled, “The O.A.U- Coordinating Foreign Policies in Africa, 1963- 1976.” With the successful defence of his thesis in 1977, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) was conferred on Oheneba, giving him the noble academic title – Dr. Osei-Tutu Poku.

DIPLOMATIC CAREER

Soon after completing his PhD, Oheneba returned to Ghana to take up a job offer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Desk Officer overseeing affairs of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). This gave him great satisfaction as his desk schedule coincided with his doctoral research. Indeed, so proficient was Oheneba in Regional African affairs that he served as the Secretary of Ghana’s delegation to the OAU Council of Ministers and Heads of State and Government Meetings from 1977 to 1979.

In June 1981, after having just completed a most prestigious research fellowship at the University of Florence in Italy, Oheneba returned to Ghana to fulfil what he described as the best decision of his life – to marry his life partner and sweetheart ‘Maa Tina’ of the royal house of Feyiase. Oheneba and Miss Augustina Boateng having been engaged in 1977 solemnized their Holy Matrimony on 29th August 1981 at the St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, Kumasi.

After five years working at the Bureau of African Affairs, Oheneba was moved from the OAU desk to the Department of Economic Affairs. In 1985, he was posted to Washington DC, USA, where he worked as a Foreign Service Officer.

During his assignment in Washington DC, he prepared papers and reports on Ghana’s economic development to support the mobilisation of increased foreign investment and food-aid reliefs from friendly foreign governments and international organisations. This was at a time when the economy of Ghana was going through severe difficulties in the 1980s.

THE AKYEMPIMHENE

In April 1982, the Akyempim Stool became vacant following the passing of Oheneba Boakye Dankwa. Consequently, Oheneba was appointed and installed as the Akyempimhene by his father Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. For nearly a decade, he combined his role as Akyempimhene and foreign officer in Washington DC, before he finally resigned from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991.

He dedicated the rest of his life to serving as the Akyempimhene of the Kingdom and the Head of the Kyidom division of Asanteman. Oheneba’s loyalty and fidelity to Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II were impeccable. He served in humility and respect, always availing himself to convey the vision, values and actions demanded of generating a better society. His expertise in law, diplomacy and governance came in handy in his contribution towards the development and modernization of Asanteman.

Oheneba Adusei Poku supported and promoted many good causes in Asanteman and Ghana. He was patron of several organizations and served on the boards of key institutions such as KATH, KNUST, KMA, CSIR, Ashanti Regional Lands Commission and Asante Kotoko SC. His selfless and generous nature enabled him to support the livelihoods of countless individuals and families. The support came in various forms including admissions to academic institutions, job applications, critical personal expenses and other pressing needs of many families. To his beloved church, St. Cyprian’s Anglican Cathedral, he was worth his weight in gold. He received the highest award in the Anglican Church called “The Bishop’s Badge of Honour” for the extraordinary support he gave to his Church. In recognition of Oheneba’s distinguished service to Asanteman and Ghana, the title of an ‘Honorary Fellow’ was also conferred upon him by Akuafo Hall, University of Ghana (Legon).

His final public appearance was the ‘Akwasidae Kese’ which marked the 25th Anniversary (Silver Jubilee) celebration of Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II. On this grand occasion, he was gracefully paraded in a palanquin, surrounded by his loved ones to greet the King of Ashanti.

Overall, Oheneba Adusei Poku devoted 42 years of his life to the Golden Stool as the longest-serving Akyempimhene in the history of the Asante Kingdom, having served both Otumfuo Opoku Ware II (from 1982 to 1999) and Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II (1999 to 2024).

On Wednesday 10th July 2024, Oheneba passed away peacefully at KATH after succumbing to a short illness.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mrs. Tina Adusei Poku, and eight children, namely; Nana Adusei Poku, Mrs. Victoria Poku Abrokwa, Gifty Poku Adusei (of blessed memory) Dr. Mrs. Peggy Poku Amoakohene, Nana Osei-Kuffour Poku, Mrs. Leslie Poku, David Osei Bonsu Poku, Justicia Nana Oheneafrewo Poku and Victoria Natalie Nana Afriyie Poku. He was also blessed with 20 adorable grandchildren.