Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo (1863-1927) was Omanhene (paramount chief) of Akuapem. A state in what is now southern Ghana, some 30 mi (48 km) north of Accra, from 1895-1907, and from 1920-1927. He was a strong supporter of British imperial expansion in the Gold Coast. Born in 1863, he was baptized and educated at the Basel Mission schools at Akuropon. the capital of Akuapem, and later continued his education at the Mission’s Theological Seminary there, becoming a classical scholar and an orator. He then became an accountant with F. & A. Swanzy, a reputable trading firm, and was later secretary to Kwame Fori I, who ruled as Omanhene of Akuapem from 1880-1895.
In 1895 he succeeded Kwame Fori as the first Christian-educated Omanhene of the state. As a pioneer cocoa farmer, he encouraged the development of cocoa farming in the country by instituting prizes for farmers, thus earning the title of the “Omanhene Farmer.” As a supporter of the British, he raised 2,500 carriers to help the British in their expedition to Asante during the Yaa Asan- tewa war of 1900. Although he had British backing. he was nevertheless destooled in 1967.
Despite his Christian education. he had 62 recognized wives, 127 children, 142 grandchildren, and 54 great-grandchildren during his lifetime. In 1970 his descendants numbered nearly 1,000. In 1920 he was re-enstooled as Omanhene. He built a great palace in the European style at Akuropon. In 1926 he became a member of the newly constituted Legislative Council, and in 1927 of the newly created Joint Provincial Council of Chiefs. He died and was buried as Okuapemhene (Omanhene of Akuapem) in 1927. His life is illustrative of the social and economic changes which took place in his time, as well as of the conflict of values created by formal education in the country during the earlier part of the 20th century.
M. A, KWAMENA-POH
