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Ashanti
Chronology
1550-1650: Asanti (Ashanti) exported
gold north.
1697: Osei Tutu, the Asantehene
(king), created Asanti Union.
early 18th century: The kingdom of Asante, in the modern
state of Ghana, became powerful. In order to expand the power of
his kingdom, Osei Tutu, together with his chief priest, changed
the constitution and the ceremonial regalia (cloths, ornaments,
and decorations). Particularly, Osei Tutu substituted for the
royal throne (a stool) a special Golden Stool, which (he said)
had descended from heaven into his lap, symbolizing the Asante
nation. Every year, the Asante people assembled after the yam
harvest for a national festival, the Odwira, for their unity
with their kingdom.
1896: As British colonial power
expanded in West Africa, there were clashes with the Asante and
the area became a British protectorate. The king Prempeh was
removed.
1901: The area was annexed with the southern area of what
is now Ghana as the colony of the Gold Coast. The British often
used the Golden Stool in ways that distressed the Asante people.
1935: The Golden Stool was returned to
the people of Asante. The Asante were re-united, at least in a
symbolic way, as a new Asantehene (king), Prempeh II, revived
the ceremonies. During the late 1930s, Prempeh II did much to
restore the glories of the old ceremonies of the Asante.
1947: Kwame Nkrumah returned to the
Gold Coast.
1957: Ghana became the first black
African state given independence by Britain. Leaders Kwame
Nkrumah was referred to as J.J (Junior Jesus) as Ghanaians
believed that just like the Messiah, Nkrumah saved the country
from colonial rule. Under Nkrumah's regime, the Ashanti people
suffered humiliation.
1957-1963: the Greater Togo Movement
of Ewe separatists sought to separate Trans-Volta (now Volta
Region) from Ghana and annex it to Togo. During this period,
especially 1961, not one Ewe held a position in Nkrumah's
cabinet.
1966: Nkrumah was overthrown by
General Emmanuel Kotoka (an Ewe) and went into exile. It was
widely held that Kotoka had a lot of support from his own
people. Power transferred from the coastal Akan peoples to the
Ewe and Ashanti. The Ewe and Ga were over-represented in the
cabinet. Northerners represented only 12 of the 1966 cabinet.
(They account for about 25 percent of the country's population)
1967 April: General Kotoka was killed
during an abortive coup attempt. Anti-Ewe sentiment rose
throughout the country. The coup attempt was widely believed to
be conducted by Ashantis and Fantis who try to reverse the
growing domination of the state by Ewes.
1969: Government intervention in the
selection of Ya Na (paramount chief) of the Dagomba, a northern
people, resulted in rioting against the government.
1969 September: Ewe supported their
compatriot K.A. Gbedemah and his party, the National Alliance of
Liberals (NAL), in the general elections. But the Progress Party
(PP) came to power.
1971: Only one Ewe was serving in a
senior army position by the end of 1971.
1972 January: Ignatius Acheampong (an
Ashanti) seized power in a coup. His National Redemption Council
(NRC) was relatively diversified in ethnic composition. Yet
under Acheampong's rule (1972- 1978), the Ashanti appeared to
play a key role in politics. Between 1973 and 1977, Ewe revived
the sentiments of secession.
1978 July: Acheampong was replaced at
the head of the SMC by General Fred Akuffo. But Akuffo's regime
(SMCII) proved to be no more than a footnote to Acheampong's
period in power.
1979 June 4: Flt.-Lt. Jerry Rawlings
(half Ewe) seized power in a coup. Ewes took many key positions
in his regime.
1979 September: Hilla Limann (a
northerner) became president through a general election. Ewes
supported Limann's Peoples National Party (PNP) in the election.
Limann's PNP had its support base in the north and west. Many
Akan peoples living in Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo areas voted for
the PNP in the 1979 elections, but they did not get adequate
recognition from the Limann government. By the end of 1981, the
Limann regime had lost its influence over the groups making up
the society and the economy declined sharply.
1981 December 31: Rawlings led his
second coup and assumed the chairmanship of the Provisional
National Defense Council (PNDC) after overthrowing the Limann's
civilian government and banning all political parties. As
Rawlings came to power, Ewes' ethnic consciousness has further
consolidated to the extent that they attempted to maximize their
political influence. Rawlings cut back on the prominence of Ewes
in his cabinet and yet Ashanti demands increased.
1982: Contention was greatly
intensified among different ethnic groups. The armed forces were
increasingly divided along ethnic lines, with the Ewe supporting
Rawlings while the large number of northerners backed Sgt. Aloga
Akata-pore.
1983 June 19: A coup was attempted but
crushed by the government troops. The PNDC government accused
Ivory Coast of allowing its territory to be used as a base by
the Ghanaian dissidents. Throughout the 1980s since the PNDC
assumed power, there were a number of attempts and plots to
overthrow the government.
1990 July 5: The PNDC, under pressure
from western donor nations and opposition groups to restore a
multi-party civilian government, announced the commencement of a
national discussion on the country's political future aimed at
the development of democracy.
1990 August: The Movement for Freedom
and Justice (MFJ), an umbrella organization, was launched to
promote the return of multi-party politics to Ghana.
1990 September 15: The MFJ was denied
permission by the police to hold its inaugural rally in Kumasi,
Ghana's second largest city.
1991 July 2: Political opponents of
the ruling PNDC, who were in voluntary exile, were granted
amnesty to return and assist in the national reconstruction.
1991 December: According to a report
of the International Human Rights Group Amnesty International,
the PNDC misused power by using imprisonment as a means to
suppress political opposition. The report stated that over 50
people were being detained without proper trial. Secretary of
the Interior Nana Akouko Sarpong denied the existence of
political prisoners and dismissed the human rights report as
being part of a "propaganda war" against developing
nations.
1991 December 28: The Consultative
Assembly on the drafting of a new constitution asked that its
deliberations be prolonged until March 1992.
1992 March: On the 35th anniversary of
independence, Rawlings announced a timetable for returning the
country to civilian rule.
1992 May 17: In the wake of the
adoption of a new constitution in April, the ban imposed on
political parties in 1981 was lifted. The registration process
was boycotted by many groups, who took legal action against the
legislation.
1992 November 2: Rawlings won 58
percent of the vote in the presidential election. Ewes in the
Volta region on Ghana's eastern border overwhelmingly voted for
Rawlings, their favorite son candidate, while the Akan vote was
more evenly spread. All of the four opposition parties -- New
Patriotic Party (NPP), People's National Convention (PNC),
National Independence Party (NIP), and the People's Heritage
Party (PHP) -- immediately disputed the results, alleging fraud
and intimidation of voters. Yet, the head of a 15-member
international observers, called the Commonwealth Observer Team,
said that although the process had not been without incident,
the elections were free and fair.
1992 November 11: The Ashanti regional
administration lifted a curfew that was imposed last week on the
Kumasi metropolitan area due to rioting over the results of the
recent elections.
1992 December 29: The four main
opposition parties boycotted the national parliamentary
elections. They wanted to postpone the elections for two years
and to establish an interim parliament with equal representation
for all the parties. Among the four parties, the NPP had been
quite certain of ousting President Rawlings. Still, the
elections were held and Rawlings' National Democratic Congress
won 189 seats out of 200.
1993 January 7: The Fourth Republic of
Ghana was proclaimed. Also the four main opposition parties
issued a joint statement of the acceptance of the "present
institutional arrangement." The parties, assembled as the
Inter-party Coordinating Committee (ICC), urged its members to
"give the government a chance to prove that it is
interested in the institution and restoration of
democracy."
1993 January: A shadow organization
calling itself Farigan, led by Lagos, Nigeria-based Alhaji Damba,
claimed responsibility for bombings in Accra (the capital) and
Tema (an industrial city).
1993 December 20: More than 1,500
delegates of the NPP (a major opposition party) met at the
University of Ghana, Legon, for their second annual conference.
A resolution called for a revision of electoral laws and
procedures. In addition, the resolution demanded a commission of
inquiry into the recent allegation of corruption and
embezzlement of public funds.
1995 February 16: Bushfires swept across Ghana causing
extensive damage to forests and crops. At least 12 were killed
1995 May 3: Anti-government
demonstrations took place in Accra. They were sponsored by the
Alliance for Change and they resulted in clashes between pro-
and anti-Rawlings demonstrators. Five people were killed in the
clashes. (The Alliance for Change may be a mostly Ashanti
organization-they were planning a similar demonstration in the
Ashanti region).
1995 June 23: Thousands demonstrate in
the sea port of Takoradi in protest over the high cost of
living. Ghana has implemented World Bank sponsoted austerity
measures since the early 1980s and is generally thought to be in
healthy financial shape compared to other African states. Yet,
per capita income is low (about $450/year) and unemployment is
high.
1995 August 14: Ashanti king Otumfuo
Nana Opuko Ware II celebrated his silver jubilee (75th birthday)
on the 300th anniversary of his kingdom. Celebrations were
attended by President Rawlings who is married to a member of the
Ahsanti royal family. Much of the opposition to Rawlings'
regime, however, comes from the Ashanti community.
1996 February 19: A dispute between
the traditional rulers of two central Ghanaian regions led to
weekend riots in which at least six people were killed, scores
were injured, and houses and other property were destroyed by
fire. The riots occurred in the district of Techiman. They were
sparked by an apparent move by the king of the Ashanti people to
reassert his influence over the area, which had once been part
of the Ashanti empire but later became autonomous. The issue of
tribute collections, which had been dormant, resurfaced on Feb.
12 when Asantehene (king) Opoku Ware II announced the promotion
of 17 subchiefs to the rank of paramount chief.
The newly promoted chiefs included those from
Tanoso, Tuobodom, Tano Boase and Buoyam in the Techiman area.
The promotion should have been done by the paramount chief of
the Techiman Traditional Area, Nana Takyi Ameyaw, who saw Ware's
move as meant to reassert his former authority. Following the
promotion announcement, therefore, the four towns each had two
chiefs, one installed by the traditional kingmakers of Techiman
and the other by the Asantehene. However, after the weekend
riots involving supporters of the rival chiefs, those installed
by the Ashanti leader fled the area. (Source:
Inter Press Service, 2/19/96)
1996 December 4: Political activity in
Kumasi, capital of Ashanti region, was banned by the Regional
Security Council following pre-election violence. The ban on the
political activities included rallies, blockade of roads and
streets with songs, and other acts that are likely to lead to
violence in the metropolis. The decision was the result of an
incident which occurred at Old Tafo near Kumasi on December 3,
which resulted in the lynching to death of one Emmanuel Yao
Gruponi, popularly known as Ima Yao of the NDC [National
Democratic Congress] youth wing. The NDC's party office was
burnt down, and a house was attacked. (Source:
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 12/4/96)
1996 December 10: Although the
official total from December 7 presidential elections has not
yet been announced, President Jerry Rawlings looks assured of a
historic win in Ghana's elections after dominating the West
African nation's political scene for almost two decades. No
incumbent has been re-elected since Ghana won independence from
Britain in 1957. The final count for parliamentary elections
also held on December 7 has been announced. The count gives the
president's National Democratic Congress party 117 seats in the
200-seat assembly. The combined opposition has 62 seats. (Source:
Reuters World Service, 12/10/96)
1996 December 23: Kofi Annan of Ghana
became the first sub-Saharan African to head the United Nations
as Secretary General. (Source: Inter Press Service, 12/23/96)
1997 January 25: The Ashanti Regional Police Command sent a
reinforcement to Nsuta to help contain the tense situation which
developed between the people of Nsuta and Bepawso. Citizens of
Nsuta yesterday blocked the road between the town and Bepawso
and prevented travelers going to and from Bepawso. The blockade
was in protest against a letter allegedly written by the
Bepawsohene [traditional ruler] to the Nsutahene claiming that
the people of Nsuta are occupying Bepawso land. Fourteen people,
including school children, were injured, and four people were
killed. (Source: BBC Summary of World
Broadcasts, 1/25/97)
1998 September 9: The Ashanti regional
security council has urged members of the Sunna and the Tijaniya
Muslim sects to respect customs, traditions and norms of the
Islamic religion. They should also tolerate each other's views
to avoid frequent outbreaks of violence between them. The
council directed that the use of public address systems by the
two sects should cease. Police have been monitoring the Zongo
and the Aboabo communities to ensure that there is no breach of
the peace. (Source: BBC Summary of World
Broadcasts, 9/9/98)
1998 October 15: The
man reputed to be the Kabila of the ruling National Democratic
Congress (NDC), Goozie Tanoh, is reported to have gone
underground after what NDC reformers called persistent pressure
on him to renounce his Movement. In recent weeks, signals have
been sent to the NDC to reform or risk the imminent breakup of
the party. (Source: Africa News, 10/15/98)
1998 October 25: John Agyekum Kufuor, a lawyer and economist,
was on Saturday re-elected presidential candidate of the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) to contest the 2000 elections. (Source:
Africa News, 10/25/98)
1998 November 3: Another
rebel group has emerged in the Ashanti Region and is accusing
the Regional Minister, Mr. Daniel Ohene Agyekum, of being
undemocratic. The rebel group led by Mr. Peter Owusu Banahene, a
former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NDC, is now calling for
the cancellation of the recently conducted Ashanti Regional
Congress on the grounds that the election was undemocratic and
fraudulent. (Source: Africa News, 11/3/98)
1998 December 17: The
National Democratic Congress (NDC) began its delegates congress
in Sekondi in the Western Region. With the issue of who succeeds
President J.J. Rawlings now put to rest by the President's
repeated endorsement of his Vice President, Professor John Evans
Atta-Mills, the struggle has shifted to certain key positions in
the party. Alhaji Issifu Ali, the party Chairman has been
removed from his position. Already there are many party
functionaries in a queue to fill the void created by Issifu
Ali's exit. Dr. Obed Asamoah, the overwhelming choice of the
party's National Executive Council, flatly rejected the
chairmanship offer.
Although, Ali gave other reasons, credible
sources within the NDC claim that Obed rejected the offer
because with the President as the virtually omnipotent within
the party, it would seem the party is dominated by Ewes. The lot
has now fallen on Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, the Defence Minister,
who, sources say, is more than willing to accept the position.
That would mean sacrificing Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, the General
Secretary. Huudu and Mahama Iddrisu are both Northerners and by
the current NDC permutations, the two cannot occupy such high
positions in the party. (Source: Africa News,
12/17/98)
1999 January 14: There were disturbances at Juaso in the
Asante Akyem South district of the Ashanti Region where a
misunderstanding between two feuding chiefs who wanted to assert
themselves as the legitimate head of the Juaso town resulted in
the death of one person and the injury of 12 policemen when a
police station was set ablaze. (Source: Africa
News, 1/14/99)
1999 March 19: Otumfuor Opolu Ware II,
the 79 year old king of the Asante died after reigning for 29
years. (Source: Africa News, 3/19/99)
1999 June 1: A vote of No-Confidence
has been passed on the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive Nana
Akwasi Agyemang for highhandedness, nepotism, dictatorship and
gross abuse of office. (Source: Africa News,
6/1/99) Source:
http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/inscr/mar/data/ghashantchro.htm * * *
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Frantz Fanon Documentary—Black Skin, White Mask
Explores
the life and work of the psychoanalytic theorist and activist
Frantz Fanon who was born in Martinique, educated in Paris and
worked in Algeria. Examines Fanon's theories of identity and
race, and traces his involvement in the anti-colonial struggle
in Algeria and throughout the world.
* * *
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update 29 April 2010 |
