Prior to the night of his capture by palace guards to commence elaborate rites toward his installation as Divisional Chief of Kley, Nii Ayiku Obleh IV was the Numlokpanyor or Counsellor of the Kley Quarter division of Prampram. He served from 2008 until July 19 last week, when he was officially outdoored and given the stool name, Nene Ayiku Obleh Adebontenya IV.
Known in private life as Isaac Nargei Ayiku, he was taken to a sacred ground in the dead of the night, as custom demands, and made to swear before those present. Holding a traditional sword, his head wrapped in Nyanyra or bitter cucumber (Nyanyra is an integral component of Ga- Dangme spiritual practice used in rituals of protection for ones spirit and deflecting foul spirits.) and traces of powder still visible on his face, he promised to abide by the rules governing the stool and was ready for the consequences, should he do the opposite. “If they call me in the morning, in the afternoon, in the night and I do not respond, I will offer my head as a sacrifice,” he said.
The Kley quarter is one of four divisions which make up the Prampram Traditional Area. The rest are Lakple or Wonyama (Lower Prampram), Annor We, and Olowe. These four divisions come together to assist the Paramount Chief of Prampram to run the affairs of the town. They are, however, allowed to have their respective queenmothers and other roles within the chieftaincy set-up.
Nene Ayiku Obleh Adebontenya IV was later paraded through some principal streets in the town, where he was received by elders of the traditional homes, who offered ancestral blessings for him.
He was finally presented to the Paramount Chief of Prampram, Nene Tetteh Wakah III. In the presence of everyone, he again reiterated the oath he had previously taken and promised to submit to the overall throne of the town. He also reiterated his commitment to rule with humility, as well as do things that contribute to the growth and unity of Prampram.
Addressing the gathering, the paramount chief expressed excitement about the installation. He said it was important that the four main quarters of Prampram have their divisional chiefs because of the important contributions they make to the overall success of the traditional area.
“If there is a town and there are no elders, then that is not a well-governed town,” he said. “The unity of Prampram partly rests on the shoulders of divisional chiefs because they provide the stool with the needed support for the right things to be done,” he added.
Nene Tetteh Wakah III, who a day before had officiallly launched the activities for this year’s Prampram Homowo – including a grand durbar, repeated previous appeals for unity. He said the progress of Prampram is very dear to his heart, and pledged to work with the elders to achieve that.
Story and pictures: Aaron Akwetey Botchwey and Alvin Nii Okai Kasabrafo (DJ) of PramcitiTV.
