O/R THE STORY OF KRACHI KNOW THE ORIGIN OF TOWNS
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about local history and chieftaincy. We invite our readers to deepen
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historical impact on community development.
In 1975, the eloquent Kaachiwia (Chief Mensah) testified before a Committee of Inquiry appointed by Executive Instrument to enquire into certain matters concerning the Volta Region. He stated inter alia: “In ancient times my ancestors were Etsi people who lived somewhere near Awutu on the Coast.
They migrated to Larteh Akuapem to join a number of Guan-speaking people who had established pocket communities there.
At Larteh, they became heavily indebted to Akyem overlords who used to send messengers to collect tributes in the form of anything which they favoured. Because of these exactions, my ancestors decided to pull out. They were noticed by the Akyem overlords who teased them by saying “ka—akye—won” meaning they had become insolvent. It was a corruption of this statement that the people had the name KA-AKYE, anglicized KRACHI~.
Truly, the Akyem Abuakwa overlords subjected them to penury existence until they left the region bag and baggage. However, by a remote tradition, their ancestors were known as NSOMIA. Tradition gives the first home of the Krachi as Larteh (vide: “Togo Land under United Kingdom Trusteeship” — His Majesty’s Stationery Office, London, 1949p, 7).
They left Larteh under the leadership of Tsotobi whose glorious reign in many ways opened an epoch in the history of the people. They moved together with Nkonya Wurupong and the Kankyinpoh division of Yeji. Linguistic characteristics tend to support this assertion that they originated from one common tribe.
They resolved that the three of them would fight the Akyem should they follow up as they moved northwards up the Mankrong Mountains. However, at an earlier stage of the journey, the Nkonya Wurupong crossed the Volta at Nkrofenda to their present home, thus parting company with the other two groups. Again the Veji separated from the Krachi and the latter passed through Akyeasi in Asante-Akyem before they settled at Krenja.
While at Krenja, the war leaders of Agogo and Kwaman, namely Ofori Kobon and Ntori Nimpon respectively, who took part in the war against the Guan King, Ataara Ofinam VIII, on the Afram Plains, considered a Black Stool for the founding fathers of Krachi as a sign of friendship and spiritual help they offered them before they left Larteh. The Black Stool was named “BON TSENI”.
When the trekkers were resting at Krenja, the original Batae clan split into Twoboae, Dentewia, Nchunyae and Sanwakyi clans with independent leaders. When an advanced party reconnoitred the area, they discovered that the lands on which they had settled were not completely vacant, because the Basa under Sibiri has occupied the northwest of the Sene and Volta artery.
The chief of Basa permitted them to stay on the land sovereignty of the State, and in addition these newcomers would make regular presentations of fish to the chief of Basa.Tsotobi died and so did Subiri. According to the chief list, Adorn Kwaafo succeeded the former, while Amo Sakyi succeeded the latter. On three separate occasions, the newcomers failed to send the fish which gradually grew into muted hostility, and eventually graduated into persecution.
This unfortunate mutation from friend to foe compelled the Krachi ancestors to move eastwards to a place called Kitankpanda, meaning “deserted village” where all the clans stayed before crossing to the left bank of the Volta. Krachi is an amalgamation of ten main clans of Guan origin — six originated from Lartey and four from Prang.
It is noteworthy that J.E.K. KUMAH, a Research Assistant of the Institute of African Studies, Legon, who is a founding member of the Guan Historical Society of Ghana, collected a Wealth of information on the main division of Krachi:
PATRILINEAL GROUP MIGRANTORIGIN TITLE OF HEADCHIEF
Gyamboae Larteh Osorewia (Landowner)
Twoboase Larteh
By: KWAME MPENE
Communitywatchdoggh.com invites other chiefs in rural Ghana to share their stories as well. Contact Mark Sandow for more info.
