Asantehene Conferred ‘Osagyefo’ Title on Nkrumah – Nii Moi Thompson
NDPC Chairman says historical accounts show the Asantehene gave Kwame Nkrumah the revered title before it was later approved by cabinet.
- Nii Moi Thompson says the Asantehene gave Kwame Nkrumah the title “Osagyefo.”
- Nkrumah reportedly sought cabinet approval before formally adopting the title.
- NDPC Chairman dismisses claims that Nkrumah had a hostile relationship with traditional rulers.
The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Nii Moi Thompson, has sparked renewed debate over Ghana’s early post-independence history, asserting that the title “Osagyefo” bestowed on Kwame Nkrumah originated from the Asante Kingdom.
According to Dr Thompson, historical records indicate that the title was conferred on Nkrumah by the Asantehene, after which the former president presented the matter to his cabinet for approval before officially adopting it.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, March 4, Dr Thompson rejected long-standing claims that Nkrumah had a strained relationship with the Asante Kingdom, describing such narratives as inconsistent with historical evidence.
He explained that Nkrumah admired the bravery of the Asante people, particularly their resistance against British colonial rule.
Dr Thompson cited a book by the late British historian June Milne as the source of the account, noting that it documented how the title was first given by the Asantehene.
“I read a couple of years ago a book by June Milne which said that the name Osagyefo was given to Nkrumah by the Asantehene, and Kwame Nkrumah had to bring it to the cabinet for approval before he started using it,” he said.
He further argued that Nkrumah’s relationship with traditional leaders depended largely on their support for his national development agenda rather than opposition to the chieftaincy institution.
“His relationships with the chiefs were dependent on their own roles in the national development agenda,” Dr Thompson added.
