ALL ROADS lead to the Antoa Nyama shrine today as a large number of people are expected to witness the spiritual duel between the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Kojo Bonsu and the embattled flagbearer of the United Front Party (UFP), Kwasi Addai, popularly called Odike.
Last Friday, Kojo Bosu, through his siblings, begged the Asantehemaa’s court in Kumasi to persuade Odike to revoke the said curses he rained on him (Mayor).
Mr. Kojo Bonsu allegedly persuaded members of the Asantehemaa’s court, presided over by Ohemaa Nana Agyeman, the Asantehemaa, Gyasehemaa and Queenmother of Atonsu Esereso, to prevail on Odike to reverse the Antoa curses which he said had been placed on his head so as to pave way for the ‘trial’ of the case, which is before the Asantehemaa’s court, to begin.
Begging the traditional court through his brother and sister – Ahenenana Kwame Mensah Bonsu and Ahenenana-Hemaa, Nana Afia Kobi – respectively, Kojo Bonsu said the curse was making him uncomfortable and apprehensive.
He argued that considering his resolve to testify before the court pertaining to his alleged involvement in the destruction of a DVLA testing complex project belonging to Odike, he applied for the curses to be removed from his head.
Antoa Ritual
Sequel to a no-objection stance by the former UFP flagbearer, members of the traditional court – made up of Kontinso and Nkomson divisions – asked Kwasi Addai to lead them to the Antoa shrine today for a ritual to be performed to neutralize the said spiritual powers inherent in the curses.
The court adjourned the case indefinitely pending the performance of the rites to reverse the curses, while Odike had told the court that he intends to give testimony in the presence of Kojo Bonsu – his accuser – when the trial begins.
The trial is likely to attract great attention if it goes ahead, as a result of the personalities involved.
The UFP leader, some months ago, invoked the powerful Antoa Nyamaa deity to deal with Kojo Bonsu and the Kumasi Asokwa Chief, Nana Fe-Baamoah, over a land issue in respect of his (Odike’s) DVLA testing project.
He was said to have gone to the houses of Kojo Bonsu and the Asokwahene and allegedly cursed the two, using some eggs and bottles of schnapps – having been incensed by the destruction of his property.
The KMA boss, feeling uneasy, filed a complaint at the Asantehemaa’s palace through his sister, Ahenenana-Hemaa Nana Afia Kobi, where Akwasi Addai Odike was convicted on his guilty plea for breaching Otumfuo’s order, and sentenced to a fine of 24 sheep, which were later reduced to 12, for contempt.
Odike was cited for traditional contempt after he openly admitted to having used three powerful river deities against the Kumasi Mayor and the Asokwahene, Nana Fe-Baamoah II over the destruction of his property.
Again, he was ordered to be physically present at the Antoa shrine today where rites will be performed to reverse the alleged curses.
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi