Awua Domase, Bantama, and the Kwatwoma of Seketia
Brong Ahafo Region.
KWATWOMA TRADITIONAL STATUS RE-TRACED ON THE 27TH JANUARY 1959.
ORIGIN OF KWATWOMA.
BY NANA YAW TWENE GYAN, THE WING CHIEFS, QUEEN MOTHER, AND ELDERS.
The name Kwatwoma was derived from the Red Clay which we used to besmear our bodies as a symbol in time of war. Therefore as a result of this, the Kwatwoma were named after the Red Clay "Ntwoma".
As a result of frequent wars with the Akwamus in Akwapim, we the Kwatwomas had to migrate under the leadership of the great chief Nana Boahene Korkor to find solace in a large area of forest in Ashanti where he met two men hunting for elephants. He therefore settled at Suntresu near Bantama in Kumasi.
While we were staying at Suntresu, we hired there with Nana Dormahene, of course, with equal status as paramount chiefs.
The Dormahene stayed on one side while we lived on the other with 1000 war shields indicating an immense number of Retinue This 1000 soldiers In twi was "Kyem Apem" which was the originator of Brong - Kyempem.
Owing to troubles or wars being waged on us by the Denkyiras, we moved from Suntresu to find refuge at Nsuansa near Susuanso in the Ahafo District while the Dormas also settled at Dormahwidiem now called Borma, each on one side of the stream called Nsuansa.
It was then after sometime that one day some of my subjects went to some place called "Abewoye" and saw some strange men on the land who revealed that they had descended from the earth. These are the Duayaw Nkwantas. Then in my capacity as the owner of the land, I created their leader as my "Adontenhene"
After a short while, the chief of Gyaman, called Kosonampem, sent a message to the chief of the Kwatwomas- Boahin Korkor- who was living at Asuofri, that there were some tribes known as the Kongs who were very rich and therefore both Kwatwoma and the Gyamans should jointly wage war against them in order that they could share the booty equally. The Dormas also joined in the fight against the inhabitants.
On a fierce battle, we were able to conquer the Kongs Koti Nyara, Gyamerahene, Safufuo the chief of Nkona-Wurodabea, the chief of Monae Akabrentu . After the war, the Dormas, Gyamans, and the Kwatwomas agreed to elect the Gyamanhene as paramount chief over all the rest just to help one another in time of war. But the following terms were observed as friendly treaty signed between the Kwatwomas and Gyamanhene.
(a) That Kwatwomas were entitled to the ownership of any number of captives they could capture during any subsequent battle.
(b) That any son or daughter of Kwatwoma could defy the laws and oaths of Gyamanhene without being charged and vice versa.
(c) That any body irrespective of tribe or creed should be released
when [if] he/she offended the Gyamanhene [and] was to be sacrificed by the Gyamanhene, that victim could apologise through the chief of Kwatwoma and the same applied to the Gyamanhene.
After the death of Nana Buahin Kokor, his two nephews named Acheampong and Awua Panin led the desire to succeed the late chief. Failing to obtain the throne of Nana Buahin Korkor, Nana Awua decided to go back to their old place Suntresu to dwell there. While going back, one of his nephews called Bosomtwe fell sick and was left at Odumasi with some servants to look after him.
Barfour Awua, being a great warrior was then made the leader of the Ashantis when going to war, and consequently became the Krontihene of the Asantehene.
As a token of good friendship, Nana Boahin Korkor bethrothed his niece - a daughter of the then Queen mother of Kwatwoma Nana Adwoa Kyerewah to the Dormahene. And the descendants of that particular wife of Dormahene have grown so great in number that they have built their own town called "AKONTANMU".
Nana Acheampong who succeeded Nana Boahin Korkor reigned very peacefully for some years before he died,
The Kwatwomahene had been an independent state until the birth of Ashanti Confederacy in 1935 when he was directly put under the Asantehene and was given a separate Native Authority Court with the following towns under him :-
1. Seketia
2. Asare
3. Tain Ano
4. Kofi Tiakrom
5. Biamma
6. Akrofro
7. Moronyiri
8. Gyamera
9. Adamsu
10.Kyinihia
11.Yaw Bourkrom
12.Asempakatua
13.Pewohoyosu
14.Nyame Bekyere
15.Kyekyewere
16.Tromiaso
17.Benente
18.Mpasem
19.Awua
20. Mantukwa
21.Tromiaso
22.Pewodee
23.Akyempongkrom
24.Kwadwo Fordwokrom
(Signed): Nana Yaw Twenegyan,
KWATWOMAHENE.
Ref: As transcribed on Jan 27th, 1959, by Nana Amoa-Buahin I, subsequently, Akyempemhene of Awua Domase.
