THE STORY OF BEPONG OR BEPON

KNOW THE ORIGIN OF TOWNS

By:  JOSEPH BOATENG-GYAMFI

 According to Adamu Yanko Oral Historical Tradition, the people of Bepong once lived at Kwaefo/Nkwaefo which was their headquarters. The people of Kwaefo were said to be the first indigenous people of Kodiade/Okwahu/Kwahu.

Tradition has it that there were First Kwaefo and Second Kwaefo and that the founders of these two settlements were members of the Aduana Clan locally called Amoakare clan.

The first chief or leader of Kwaefo was Nana Kwame Awua I and Nana Kwame Awua II these chiefs were followed by Nana Adamu Yanko, the great warrior who shared boundary with the chief of Begoro in the Akim Abuakwa traditional area.

A place called Nyameanim which was between Kayera and Baw (new villages of Bepong) was said to be one of the smaller settlements/villages under Kwaefo.

Tradition continued that later, the people of Kwaefo moved to Akropong. Akropong was located at a place or farmland called Ampaa; just about ten minutes drive from the present Bepong township off the Bepong-Ntomemu route.

The oral tradition further indicated that there were about seven smaller settlements under Akropong Tradition has it that when the people were at Akropong, one Abra, the chief hunter, on his usual hunting expedition, came to a spot in the then dense forest and managed to kill Obopong or Bie pong, an animal. It was said that Obopong or Bie pong was the name given to a big buffalo that is Bie or Ekoo.

Owing to frequent drought at Akropong, the people moved to the spot where Abra killed the animal which happened to have many sources of drinkable water. The people called that spot “Bie pong paa ni” that is “What a huge buffalo”. It is inferred that “Bie pong” later corrupted into Bepong or Bepon.

Up till today, the people of Bepong show their gratitude to Abra in the following panegyric. “If there is any animal at Kwaefo/Nkwaefo that animal belongs to Abra” that is “Se aboa biara ewo Kwaefo/Nkwaefo a na ewo Abra”.

It is said that it was at Bepong that Adamu Yanko’s line created Gyasehene (captain of the Body guard) for Korkora. (‘lana Kokora later became the first chief of Bepong.

It is interesting to note that up till today at Bepong, Adamu Yanko’s line is recognized as the customary owner of the land that is “Asare Wura”.

 The story of Bepong which is traced from their initial settlement at Kwaefo I, Kwaefo II, Akropong and finally to Bepong was mostly based on oral historical tradition.

Consequently, I have tried to avoid date since the authenticity of such dates cannot be guaranteed. However, there is one spectacular event in the annals of Bepong history/story which date is certain.

In December 1895, a child was born at a local Presbyterian Mission House at Bepong. This child grew up to become one of the illustrious sons of Ghana and he was late Dr. J.B. Danquah “the Doyen of Gold Coast politics” and also a member of the Big Six.

 Source of Information on the Adamu Yanko Oral Historical Tradition:

 The oral account was given by the late Nana Obbo Anyinam, known in private life as Robertson Somuah alias Kofi Minka, occupant of the Adamu Yanko Stool of Bepong form 1975-2008. He was the founder/principal of Rapid Electrical Engineering College, Nkawkaw.

 The writer is Joseph Boateng-Gyamfi. He hails from Kwahu Bepong. He holds LA. (Hons) Degree in Sociology with Political Science from the University of Ghana.

 Currently, he us a serving Senior Manager based at Akosombo. He is the founder of Kwahu Socio-Economic Research Centre (KSERC) and Socio-Economic and Centre Club based at Bepong-Kwahu.

 Source:

              The Spectator            Page: 31            Saturday, June 26, 2010