One Person Reported Dead As Bomaa’s Attempt To Rejoin Asanteman Is Met With Opposition By Dormaa

One person has been gunned down in a chieftaincy dispute at Bomaa in the Ahafo Region, GraphicOnline has reported.

There are disagreements over the installation of a new chief in the area.

There is heavy security presence in the town and the youth have been urged to exercise restraint following the unfortunate shooting incident.

The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II has said the Bomaa area is under the Dormaa paramountcy.

The chiefs and some people of the area on their part have challenged that position by the Dormaahene and insisted that they owe allegiance to Asanteman and therefore will continue their allegiance to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Following the unfortunate incident, a facebook user well versed in Asante history, Kwabena Nsafoa, has attempted to provide a historical summary of Bomaa’s ties to Asanteman.

He wrote, “Bomaa : the history of it renewed ties to Asanteman

I answered a question posed by a member of my Facebook Asante Kotoko Group. He wanted to know the position of Bɔmaa in the Ahafo Region. I’m also posting my response to him here:

Yes, Bomaa has been part of Asanteman since the 1680s.However, Bɔmaa, nearby Brosankɔ, and Abesim near Sunyani, were considered Domaa (Wam) Towns. Though the three settlements were founded before Wam Paamu now Domaa Ahenkro was founded. The three towns were founded by Atta Kumaa Obiri Yeboa, junior Atta to Akwamuhene Ansa Sasrsku II, who ruled from 1674-1689.

Atta Obiri Yeboa, Tan Date, Kyereme Sikafoɔ, and Kwaku Kusi (Dɔmma/Dɔmmra) left Akwamu with their mother Nana Nkansa in the year 1674 when Atta Obiri Yeboa lost the Akwamu Stool to Atta Panin who became known as Ansa Sasraku II.

Obiri Yɛboa founded Sonotreso now part of. Kumase. He founded Brosankɔ and Bɔmaa (Abanpredease) near Tepa, and also Abessemu near Sunyani. At Abesim, Obiri Yɛboa sought an alliance with Adu Yaw, Chief of the nearby town of Dua (Adu) Yaw Nkwanta, to attack Ɔsɛi Tutu of Kwaman.

Having failed to get the support, Obiri Yɛboa left Abesim, and entered Bono Manso territory.On reaching Bono, they were derided by the Bono as “Gya Wo Man,” those who had left their own territory.

Tan Date succeeded his deceased brother Obiri Yɛboa. He led the people to establish the new Gyawoman (Gyaaman) State with its capital initially at Sampa (Sikasso); and later Bontuku or Bondoukou now part of the Ivory Coast. All the towns founded by Atta Obiri Yɛboa were deemed to belong to the Gyaman Aduana Stool.

When Atta Obiri Yɛboa left Sonotreso his brother Kyereme Sikafoɔ succeeded him. He fought the other Obiri Yɛboa of Kwaman. Ɔsɛi Tutu succeeded Obiri Yɛboa as Kwaman Chief in about 1685. Ɔsɛi Tutu avenged the death of his uncle Obiri Yɛboa by eliminating Kyerɛme Sikafoɔ. He was succeeded by his brother Kwaku Kusu, popularly known as Domaa Kusi. He and his people escaped from Kwaman (now Kumasi). Domaa Kusi was eventually cornered by pursuing Kwaman forces at Abesim. He was killed in the subsequent battle. His surviving followers fled to the Gyaman kingdom in Bontuku.

This is how Bɔmaa, and the other towns became part of Ɔsɛi Tutu’s Kwaman by conquest. Eventually, Gyaman itself became part of Asanteman in 1746 when Opoku Ware defeated Gyaman.

Domaa which was founded as Wam Paamu by some Aduana from Gyaman also became part of Asanteman, as a result.Gyaman was divided between Britain and France as colonies.The Western half included Domaa Gyapekrom, Drobo and Sampa, became British domain.

They had been part of Asanteman.When in 1896, the British controlled Asante, and broke up Asanteman, the constituent parts became self governing. That gave Wam Paamu (Domaa Ahenkro since 1958) the opportunity to claim Bomaa and the other towns founded by his uncle Atta Obiri Yɛboa in the in the late 1670s, and early 1680s.

That’s because Gyaaman had then become part of the new French Colony, and couldn’t claim land beyond the French Colony. This is how Domaa claimed the towns established by his Nana (not his brother, by the way).

Then in 1935, the British restored the Asante status quo ante 1896. Otumfoɔ Santehene regained his lost territories. That included Dɔmaa, Bomaa, Takyiman, Drobo, etc.In 1952, Agyeman Badu I, Domaahene left Asanteman.

Again, Domaa claimed Bomaa, Abesim, and other towns, aided and abetted by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s fledgling CPP government.Apparently, Bomaa which is sandwiched betweenTepa and Yamfo, now wishes to return and become part of Asanteman independent of Domaa.

To this end, some Chiefs from Bomaa arrived at Manhyia recently, unsolicited; to publicly inform Otumfoɔ Santihene of their wish to rejoin Asanteman.The news obviously didnt sit well with the always cantankerous Domaahene, Agyeman Badu II. Last week, Nana Domaahemaa went to Bomaa reportedly to confront those wishing to return to Asanteman.

And now, all the commotion has resulted in the loss of a life. Cooler heads must prevail. If Bomaa wishes to renounce ties to Domaa, it is merely following Domaa, which renounced ties to Asanteman some 74 years ago. What goes around, comes around”.