Akrofonso

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help if you can. (February 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Agona-Akrofoso
Town
Akrofoso
Coordinates: 8°24′0″N 1°34′0″W / 8.40000°N 1.56667°W / 8.40000; -1.56667Coordinates: 8°24′0″N 1°34′0″W / 8.40000°N 1.56667°W / 8.40000; -1.56667
Country	Ghana
Administrative region	Ashanti
District	Sekyere South
Elevation 1,049	319.74 m (1,049.02 ft)
Population
• Total	1,600
Time zone	UTC+0 (GMT)

Agona-Akrofoso sometimes called Akrofonso, is a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The town is about one hour's drive from Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital. The official name is Agona Akrofoso, in the Sekyere South District, Ashanti Region, Ghana, West Africa. Akrofoso is about 2 miles east of Agona, off the Kumasi-Mampong Road, in the Sekyere South District capital off Agona, off the Agona-Asamang Road. The intersection is at the main Agona market intersection (nkwanta). Coming from Kumasi you make a right turn, before you get to the Agona Police Station, which will quickly be on your left. Coming from Tamale, Atebubu, Mampong, etc., you make a left soon after you pass the Agona Police Station, which will be on your right.

Background[]

Agona-Akrofoso, sometimes called Agona Akrofonso, is a town in the Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region, Ghana, West Africa. Agona-Akrofoso is approximately 38 kilometres (24 mi) north-east of the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi,^[1] off the Kumasi-Mampong highway. The population of Agona-Akrofoso is estimated to be about 1,600 inhabitants. The geographic coordinates for Agona-Akrofoso in the Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region are Latitude 6°55'15.045"N and Longitude 1°28'11.9634"W. Therefore, Agona Akrofoso in not the same town as Mampong-Akrofoso which is about 16 miles away from Agona Akrofoso in the north, going through Agona, via the Kumasi/Mampong/Atebubu/Tamale road.

People of Agona-Akrofonso[]

The people of Agona-Akrofoso are Ashantis, belonging to the Akan clan of Ghana, although other Akan people are found as far away as the Ivory Coast, to the west of Ghana. The people of Akrofoso speak the Twi language, although the language of business, commerce and instruction in educational institutions is English, as in all of Ghana.

History of Agona-Akrofoso[]

Agona-Akrofoso is one of only a few places in the old Ashanti Kingdom where Okomfo Anokye, the legendary Chief High Priest and advisor to one of the greatest Asante Kings, lived during the late 1700s, at the height of the Great Wars with the Denkyira people. According to legend, the People of Akrofoso relocated from the original settlement approx. 37 kilometres (23 mi) from Kumasi, to the current existing core of the town where there still exist historic buildings needing rehabilitation and preservation. Interestingly, the historic center of the new Akrofoso was planned in a grid fashion from the start, as has been documented in other cases from historical literature concerned with town planning and urbanization. Other town planning principles can be observed in Akrofoso, at large, including a waste-water collection system, public places of convenience, school buildings that double as community health centers, and protected lands.

A tree with a lot of symbol and meaning, Nyame Dua (God's Tree) found in Agona Akrofoso. This particular tree is environmentally and culturally significant. It is featured as one of the unique Adinkra Symbols in Ashanti / Asante found in art, fabrics, engraving, and in religion.

From ancient times in the 1700s, since the 1980s, however, development of Akrofoso has progressed at a moderate pace. The housing stock has increased well beyond the historic core, accompanied by an increase in population and urbanization. Efforts to map out the current geographic extent of Akrofoso is needed as part of a desirable town planning effort, for any town of its size and stature.

The Akrofosohene Stool (seat of Chieftaincy of Akrofoso) is rightly one of the significant Akan stools stools from the Ekuona clan and family, part of the Agona Division. Reportedly, the patriarch of the Ekuona is Nana Asante Gyima of Adanse and their totem is the Buffalo (Ekuo), symbolising honesty and uprightness.

Development in Akrofoso[]

There are several pending infrastructure, development plans and projects currently being considered or under construction in Akrofoso, including a 60-foot-high (18 m) potable water tank with a capacity of over 12,000 US gallons (45,400 L). To travel to Agona-Akrofoso from Kumasi, take the Kumasi-Mampong toll road, going north. At the main intersection at Agona market, near the lorry park, take the road going east towards Asamang. The Akrofoso water tower is approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the intersection. The public primary school is to the right of the water tower tank, and the old historic part of town is to the west.

There are several public water wells all around Akrofoso that are available to the people for a low fee, per bucket. However, many homes have private water wells, and the same applies to toilets. The Akrofoso water tower is being developed through private enterprise and was expected to be completed in 2012, giving residents access to a central water source and a potentially better quality/safer water source.

Agona-Akrofoso also had a soccer club known as "Multi Stars" which once played in the third division of the Ghanaian league hierarchy. However, the team did not advance and have been a bit dormant, since. It started with notable players in the name of Ofori Christian, Brother, Kwabena Bresiamah, R.K, and their first coach was Boadi Nyamekye, popularly known as Kapitulate.

Education in Agona-Akrofoso[]

The local government runs a kindergarten in Agona-Akrofoso that is not always fully attended by all eligible children. There are many reasons for poor attendance, including poor health or parents' inability to provide supplies, such as shoes, and the need for children to remain at home to help their parents. In addition, there is a primary and middle school called Junior High School. The school's buildings were built in 1942,^[2] and recently received some upgrades, courtesy of the Chief, Nana Owusu Achaw Brempong. On graduating from the Junior High School, children typically attend one of the secondary schools, called senior high schools, in Sekyere South District, although many leave the area entirely to attend school in Kumasi, Accra, or other big cities and towns in Ghana. Highly recognized schools such as Adisadel College, Prempeh College, Opoku-ware School and St. Louis School are a few to mention. Tertiary-level education in the town is also progressive. After senior high school, some of the students proceed to universities, polytechnics, nursing and teacher training colleges across the globe. Other students may end their educational careers and become farmers, or join an apprentice trades company/group (such as for masons, carpenters, roofers, plumbers, etc.) to learn a trade.

Early in 2012, citizens and supporters of Akrofoso began developing plans to develop the town, focusing in part on the Junior High School. Some long-delayed school improvements^[3] are now needed to replace the roof, repair load-bearing columns, repair windows, doors, and book shelves, and paint the interior and exterior of the building. In addition, furniture (chairs and tables) is needed. Future phases will address potable water needs, hand-washing stations and a new school fence.

In 2016, the Chief of Akrofoso, Nana Owusu Achiaw with help from the community renovated the Junior high school. The renovation mainly catered for the roofs, paint and filling in and around the building, which give it a very good look. From the benefits of the District common fund, the District Chief Executive, Mr. Ayakwah has put up a new structure to replace the old JHS but it is yet to be commissioned.

In other cases, young people who leave Akrofoso travel overseas to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, etc. Consequently, there is a growing number of native Ghanaian Diasporans from Agona-Akrofoso all over the world. Many make frequent financial and other remittances to family members, and often visit. This allows for individuals and their families to maintain crucial contacts, including business and educational relations, and sponsorship of construction projects all over Akrofoso and in the nearby towns (Agona, Asamang, Jamasi, etc.).

Industrial potential[]

Agona-Akrofoso is on the Ghana National Electricity Grid,^[4] and many homes have electricity. Cocoa production^[5] is the primary occupation. However, the production of food commodities (yams, cassava, poultry, plantains, cocoyams, fruits, etc.) is also important to the local economy.

• 

  Agona Akrofoso - Westward to Agona

• 

  Agona Akrofoso - Looking Eastward Towards Asamang

• 

  Agona Akrofoso - Looking Southwards Towards Schools

• 

  Nyame Dua - God's Tree in Akrofoso (South of School 2012)

Agona-Akrofoso in National Service and Governance[]

Recently, on 12 February 2021, Nana Owusu Achaw Brempong retained position as Ashanti Region Representative to the Ghana Council of State. Nana Owusu Achaw speaking after the elections thanked the people of Asanteman for the trust and confidence they had in him. He pledged to offer suitable and appropriate counsel to the President, especially in the area of agriculture to help boost the country's agricultural sector and improve on food security. Nana Owusu Achaw called on the people in the region to always support him with advice and suggestions that would help him to offer wise counsel to the President.

Agona-Akrofoso On Twitter[]

There is a Twitter page for Agona-Akrofoso at Akrofoso

Agona-Akrofoso on Facebook[]

There is a Facebook page for Agona-Akrofoso at Agona-Akrofoso

References[]

External links[]

• Facebook link for Agona-Akrofoso-Ashanti-Ghana