Godfried Gyechie was a Lib Councillor in Lewisham from 2006 to 2010. In a ceremony in Akwamufie in Ghana earlier this month he was formally installed as the Tufohene (Chief advisor) to the Osomanyawa of the Akwamu state. The Osomanyawa is the second in command to the paramount King of the Akwamu. Akwamufie is the capital of the Akwamu state, which was once a great empire and ran from the Ivory Coast, through Ghana to Togo in its height.
As the Tufohene, Godfried has the responsibility of settling disputes across the area. He is Head of the Armed Forces and leader of the asafo companies (the warrior groups in Akan culture).
During the ceremony of Enstoolment (ie enthronement) the Tufohene is seated on the sacred stool three times, and the name he is given is called out. The red band around his head protects him and his spirit during the ceremony, and he is perceived as having one foot in this world and one in the spirit world of the ancestors.
As the son of a Prince, Godfried already carried the title Prince, and is properly addressed as HRH Nana Gyamera-Gyechie I. His aunt, HRM Nana Safoa II, is the Queen of Akwamufie.
Godfried was the first BAME councillor to represent the Blackheath ward in Lewisham. He has been actively involved in Ethnic Minority Lib Dems as an Executive member and Treasurer but resigned from that post in order to take up the role in Ghana, although he still lives in London for most of the year.
We all join in congratulating him on this very high honour.
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5 Comments
Our congratulations to Godfried! I had the pleasure of working with Godfried during my time as chair of EMLD, and was always impressed by his incredible professionalism, dedication to the party, & discretion. I had no idea I was working with a prince! What an asset to the Liberal Democrats.
Thank you so much for your kind words Meral.
Working with the Liberal Democrats and especially the Ethnic Minority Libdems was a great experience and showed me that there are people in the world that realy want to make a difference . I wish you all well in the future
Lib Dem fightback has worked.
A machete is a step down from a ministerial car getting a taste of power but I suppose it is just an interim move until the Lords.
Hi Godfried,
Know that you were (wisely) selected from a number of candidates, and pleased to see that the ceremony went well. Look forward to seeing you back in south London in slightly warmer regalia given the current weather here.
Jonathan