Apirede-Akuapem installs new ‘Mankrado’
A new ‘Mankrado’ has been installed at Apirede-Akuapem in the Okuapeman Traditional Area in the Eastern Region at a colourful ceremony.
The new Mankrado, Mr Prince Daniels, who is also the Group President of the Paper House Ghana Limited, was given the stool name Nana Ogyiri Kwaku Manu II.
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The Mankrado is the one who assumes the reins of power in the absence of the chief of the town (Apirede-Akuapem).
Nana Ogyiri II was led by the town’s linguist (Okyeame) to swear the oath of allegiance to the chiefs and people of the town at a durbar.
Allegiance
After swearing the oath of allegiance three times, he was taken to a room where libation was poured and other rituals for the installation of a Mankrado were performed.
Nana Ogyiri II thereafter came to the ceremonial grounds to dance to traditional music to the admiration of the people gathered.
Other chiefs also took turns to perform traditional dances with traditional songs and drumming, receiving applause from the crowd at the durbar grounds.
Advice
The Akuapem Werepemhene, Nana Kwame Henaku II, urged Nana Ogyiri II to learn more about the traditions and customs of his people and his role as a chief.
He said the chieftaincy institution was a great learning platform for any leader and added that every chief or traditional leader ought not to stop learning as there were many things to be learned when one was in a leadership position.
He said Nana Ogyiri II had been installed as Mankrado in order to help the chief of the town develop the area.
Nana Henaku II reminded the new chief of the significant position that the Mankrado stool played in the affairs of every community and urged him to use his role to help develop the town.
According to him, no single person could develop any town or community and that development was a shared responsibility, so he called on all indigenes of the area to support the new chief and others to bring development to the town.
He pledged his readiness and that of other chiefs in the area to offer any assistance should the new chief call on them.
For his part, the Apiredehene (Chief of Apirede-Akuapem), Nana Saforo Okoampah III, urged the new chief to help improve education in the town.
He said the townsfolk used to be among the warriors in the Okuapeman Traditional Area in the past but that era was gone and it now needed well-educated citizenry.
Commendation
He commended the elders and people of the town for the unity and peace with which they conducted themselves during the installation and coronation of the new Mankrado.
Nana Okoampah III said there were many places in the country where violent conflicts had erupted during the installation of chiefs, sometimes within the same families.
He, therefore, praised the Anumude family, the clan from which the new Mankrado was selected, for peacefully going about the selection process.
Nana Ogyiri II assured the people that he would work closely with the chiefs, elders and people to improve the standards of living in the area.