Tradition relates that during the Asante —Denkyira War, 1701, Nana Ofosuhene Apenten assisted his clan brother, the Denkyirahene, who was totally defeated by the Asante army. In order to avert reprisals, the Kotoku’s vacated and settled at Mmerayem temporarily, before reaching Bomfa. Yet still the Asantehene wanted the Kotoku’s to serve him, and when they turned down the request war broke out resulting in the premature death of Nana Ofosuhene Apenten.

His successor_, Frempon Manso (Frempon-a-ne-man-so) in reference to his vast domain maintained his stand and fought several pitched battle against the Asante army which he won victoriously on each occasion. Tradition recounts that in one of the Asante invasions he lost his royal Abohyen Stool to Asante which was suspended with chains. Legend has it that the spirit of the Abohyen stool was captured and restored in a new stool during their stay in Danpon.

After a series of campaigns at Bomfa, Nana Frempon Manso and his subjects moved on Kotokus Adukow which ruins lie in the locality of Hwediem near Agogo.

Tradition recounts that Kotoku were joined by the Bretuo and Tena clan people from Tokwaboho near Effiduase under the leadership of Ampon Agyei. They settled in the vicinity at Kronko.

The story is that Nana Frempon Manso had an issue with the sister of Nana Ampon Agyei by name Akosua Afranewa and brought forth Antwi Apasewa who later became chief of Hwediem which was bequeathed him by his father, the Kotokuhene.

Again he married Asantewa Kese, daughter of Otema Senewa of the Bretuo clan and brought forth Oware Okwamoa who later became chief of Kwahu Twenedurase.

Nana Ampon Agyei refused to serve Kotokuhene so he left with his followers, and sited new settlements on the Kwahu mountains.

Nana Frempon Manso then founded a new settlement at Dampon, leaving behind his son Antwi Apesewa and those Kotoku subjects who built the town Heeded near Agogo.

Dampon, the capital was firmly and strategically established, and was gradually assuming an eminent position in the region. The Aboriginal settler in the vicinity was Kwakye Depaa who lived at Nobowam near Asankare.

At Dampon, gold mines were in abundance and the inhabitants knew how to extract gold from the soil on commercial basis. Nana Frempon Manso owned gold mines and those who worked for him delivered a pint of pure gold dust a day.

At one time there was severe drought at Dampon which made it impossible to extract gold from the gold reserve and engage in farming activities. As a result of they moved southwards and settled at Oda near Afoso or Prasokuma on the bank of the Pra river.

Still the Kotokus were adamant to be subservient to Asante’s hegemony. Consequently the Asante attacked them. Several pitched battles were fought in which the Asante were victorious.

However, on a Saturday the King, when crossing the Pra River to punish the Akyem was shot by Adenuahene Kore Akrasi who had taken cover on a tree. The body fell into the river and was never recovered. In this campaign the Akyem Abuakwa formed the Adonten (Vanguard) for the whole army which was commanded by the Kotoku war lord.

 *Source:

             The Spectator         Page: 31            Saturday, November 14, 2009