The Otumfour Family of the Kabiawetsu Clan in Ada has officially installed Asafoatse Narh Baako Otumfour V, as its new Asafoatsengua (senior warlord), following the passing of Asafoatsengua Otumfour Baako IV.
The colourful ceremony, held at Big Ada, was marked with rich traditional displays, drumming, and dancing, as elders, family heads, youth, and well-wishers from across the Ada Traditional Area gathered to witness the historic event.
Prior to his public outdooring, a series of sacred rites were performed to affirm the authority and acceptance of the new Asafoatse in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Ada people.
In his maiden address after the installation, Asafoatse Narh Baako Otumfour (V) expressed deep gratitude to his family and pledged to lead with humility, unity, and a strong sense of purpose.
“The position I occupy was not forced on me. I accepted it wholeheartedly when the baton got to me,” he said, drawing applause from the gathering.
He noted that the slow pace of development in Ada was worrying and urged members of the community to work together to change the situation. “Our land cannot move forward if we are divided,” he added.
Naana Adede Akrofi I, the Queen Mother of Amlakpo, admonished the newly installed Asafoatsengua to lead with truth, transparency, and accountability, and reminded him to uphold the legacy of their forefathers by defending what rightfully belongs to the people and shunning acts of greed and division.
“A leader is like an umbrella that shelters his subjects, not the other way round,” she said.
Family elders commended the youth for their support and urged them to maintain respect and cooperation towards traditional authority, emphasising that the strength of the clan lay in unity and discipline, she said.
The spokesperson for the Otumfour Stool, Asafoatse Kabutey Agbeshi III, explained that the Asafoatsengua (Warlord) position within the Kabiawetsu Clan was a rotational birthright shared among the various family lines, noting that it was now the turn of the Amlakpo lineage, from which the new Asafoatsengua hailed.
He said Asafoatse Narh Baako Otumfour (V) now served as the Senior Warlord of the Kabiawetsu Clan, the Otumfour Family, and the Ada Paramountcy.
As part of the festivities, the newly installed Asafoatsengua led a grand procession through several communities, including Big Ada, Gbantana, Amlakpo, and Adjumanikope, where residents poured out to welcome their new leader with joy and celebration.
The installation of Asafoatse Narh Baako Otumfour (V) is viewed as a significant step towards maintaining the traditional leadership structure and ensuring continuity within the Kabiawetsu Clan under the Ada Traditional Council.
