Ghana Substates

Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Substates of Ghana
(Female Suffrage 1949/54) A number of territories administered by the British after World War II as an United Nation Trusteeship until gaining independence 1957 and becoming a republic in 1960

Also see Ghana Ministers and Ghana Heads

Aburi-Akuapem

Before 1997 Chief Nana Osei Boakye Yiadom II
Elizabeth Apeadu was the first woman chief of her village and an administrative judge and conciliator in the Akan political process as well as head of all Akan cultural and religious ceremonies. Since 1986 she serves as a consultant on the UN Decade for Women, advising the Committee on African Women’s Affairs.

 

Akan

The ohemmaa (Queen-Mother) is the co-ruler and has joint responsibility with the king for all affairs of the state. She wields true political power and could, under certain conditions, assume full control of central authority; she could become the "king," the omanhene. The ohemmaa is the only person who can rebuke the ohene  openly  in public.

The Akan ohemmaa was, and continues to be, chosen by her senior lineage mates, female as well as male. Changes have occurred in the institution of ohemmaa over the last century that have resulted primarily from colonial conquest. But it is clear that the ohemmaa has never been chosen by the king. To the contrary, she, in fact, is the one who is principally responsible, and historically has been, for the selection of the candidate when the king's office, the royal stool, becomes vacant

(Akyem Abuakwa)  

The Queen Mother - Ohemaa - cousin, aunt or the mother of the reigning chief. She is the matriarch of the Royal family and is involved in the nomination of the successor to the stool. She is a member of the Executive Council and an ex-officio member of the Okyeman council. She has jurisdiction to settle the domestic disputes her subjects.

1817-35 Queen Dokuwa
She abdicated in favour in the oldest of triplet-sons. She (d. 1855)  

185.. NN

Apraponso

2004- Chieftainess Nana Ekua Bri II
Also known as Anna Ekua Saakwa she is head of the  1.500 inhabitants of the village of Apraponso and of the surrounding villages  in the Mpohor-Wassa Traditional Area of the Western Region as a subordonate of the local king. During the inaguration-ceremony she swore the customary oath to the chiefs and people at the Apraponso Royal Ground, holding the state sword in her right hand, espoused the greatness, achievements and conquests of her ancestors and pledge to blaze their trail. She is a Social Democrat member of the City Council of Copenhagen and continues to live in Denmark. (b. 1958-).

Asante (Ashanti )

The Asantehemaa, or Queen mother. With the approval of the powerful chiefs of the Asante federated state, the Queen mother bore the responsibility for designating the next Asantehene, or king of Asante. Historically, the Asantehemaa played a complementary role to the Asantehene in leading the nation. She provided wise counsel, political acumen, historical perspective, and detailed knowledge of royal genealogy. She also helped to maintain the delicate balance of power between the elite and the powerful chiefs of the federated states. 

.... Reigning Queen Guebi Saa Ababoi Wankii
The source of this information is "A woman in former Africa" Heinrich Loth, (Warszawa 1988) who states that she was a great ruler, but does not give any dates. He also claims that 18 women were co-rulers with the king in the period 1295-1700.

1700-circa 1750 1st Asantehemaa Nana Nyarko Kusi Amoa
Mother of Opoku Ware I and the 4th Asantahemaa

1750-?  2nd Asantehemaa Nana Nkatia Ntem Abamoo

1777-78 Regent of the Kingdom 3rd Asantehemaa Nana Akua Afriyie
It is not exactly known when she took office as Asantahemaa. Mother of King Osei Kwadwo (Around 1764-77). Mother of three daughters. Akyamaa was the mother of king Osei Kwame (Around 1777-98) and the 6th Asantahemaa. Sewaa Okuwa was mother of the 5th Asantehemaa and she was succeeded by the third daughter, Konadu Yaadom I as the 4th Asantahemaa.

Ca.1778-1809 4th Asantehemaa Nana Kwaadu Yiadom I
Mother of the king Opoku Fofu, (1798-1801), Osei Bonsu (1801-24) and Osei Yaw (1824-33) and of the 7th Asantahemaa, Yaa Dufie, and lived (1752-1809)

1809-circa 19 5th Asantehemaa Nana Adoma Akosua
Succeeded on the post by cousin. She lived (1765-1819).

Circa 1819-24/33 6th Asantehemaa Nana Ama Sewaa
She was succeded by sister, and lived (1763-1824/33)

1824/33-1835 7th  Asantehemaa Nana Yaa Dufie
Succeded sister. Four of her brother's were kings of Ashante. She lived (1770-1835)

1835-1859 8th Asantehemaa Nana Afia Sapon
Daughter of king Osei Kwame (Around 1777-98), succeeded as 9th Asantehemaa by daughter. She lived (1790-1859)

1859-1884 9th Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampen  I
Mother of the kings Kofi Kakari and Mensa Bonsu and of the the10th Asantahemaa.

1884-1917 10th Asantehemaa Nana Yaa Akyeaa of Asante (Ghana)
Mother the kings Kwaku Dua (1860-84) the 12th Asantahene in 1884, of Premph I (1888) and grandmother of Premph II. She had through strategic political marriages built the military power to secure the Golden Stool for her son. The British authorities offered to take the Asante under their protection, but Prempeh refused each request. In 1896 the British authorities entered Kumase and arrested Prempeh and Yaa Akayaa as well as Prempeh's father, and they were all send in exile. Succeeded as 11th Asantehemaa by daughter, Konadu Yaadom II, who was in office until 1944. Yaa Akyaa lived (circa 1837-1917).

1917-44 11th Asantehemaa Kwaadu Yaadom II of Asante (Ghana)
Elected Queen Mother after the death of her mother, Yaa Akyaa. In the period 1900-35 there was no Asantehene or king of the Asante. From 1926-35 the kingdom was ruled by chiefs with the title of Kumasehene. The last of those, Otumfuo Nana Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, began his reign in 1931, became Asantehene in 1935, and ruled until 1970. Konadu Yaadom II was followed on the post by her cousin, Nana Ama Sewas Nyaako, who was in office until 1977.

1944-77 12th Asantehemaa Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko
Daughter of Akua Afriyie, the Kumasehemaa and the daughter of Afua Kobi I.

1977-2016 13th Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II
Married to Nana Kwame Boakye Danquali and mother of King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (1950-1999-)
According to www.ghanaweb.com, she was regent 26-30 March 1999, and assumed responsibility for the royal household, provided daily market money to feed the king's personal attendants and his widows. The Bantamahene, Baffour Awuah V, Head of the Kingmakers to the Stool was Acting resident of the Kumasi Traditional Council, until she nominated her son as successor of her brother, king Otumfuo Nana Opoku Warre II (1919-70-99). She lived (1907-2016)  

Denkyira

1770-93 Denkyirahene Amoako Atta Yiadom
She reigned after Amoako Atta Kuma (1725-70). The state was founded in 1500 under the name of Agona, but was renamed in 1620. In 1701 it was defeated by the Asante and became a tributary kingdom. 

Dwaben (Dwabenhene) (Juaben)

Around 1600 Queen Nana Adifa

Around 1630 Queen Nana Aberewa Ampen
Succeeded by son

1838-48 The Dwabenhene Ama Sewa

From 1848 Reigning Dwabenhemaa and Dwabenhene Nana Afrakoma Panin 
Succeeded mother, Ama Sewa, and was succeeded by daughter, Nana Akua Saponmaa, as holder of the dual offices of Dwabenhemaa and Dwabenhene (Queen Mother and King). 
 
After 1848 Reigning Dwabenhemaa and Dwabenhene Nana Akua Saponmaa
Succeessor of her mother, Nana Afrakoma Panin, at a not known time.

1860-86 Dwabenhemaa Nana Akosua Afrakomaa II
A Queen who wielded much power and authority in Dwaben, a Core Member of the Kingdom of Asante. She reigned in conjunction with her father, Nana Asafo Agyei( who was a regent of the male stool of Dwaben). She was also very wealthy in her own right as attested to, by the following description of her, as she was seen in Cape Coast in 1876. "According to Captain A.B. Ellis who saw the visitors, the Dwabenhemaa, Afrakumaa II, made the greatest impression on the spectators. The wealth of young, handsome queenmother was worthy of note: She was attired in a rich silk "country cloth" (kente) of great value, and her arms, from the wrist to the elbow, were covered with strings of gold ornaments and aggrey beads; gold anklets appeared on each leg, and her well-shaped neck was almost hidden by the mass of gold necklets which encircled it. 12 or 14 young girls, likewise bedecked with gold ornaments, attended her, bearing horse-tails with which to whisk away the impertinent flies.)"

1942-69 Dwabenhemaa Nana Dwaben Serwaa II

1959-63 Dwabenhene (King)
Concurrent Queen and King of Dwaben. First enstooled as the Queen of Dwaben and held the joint offices until1963, when she placed her son, Nana Kwabena Boateng II on the male Stool of Dwaben, making him Dwabenhene. She continued to rule as Dwabenhemaa until 1969, when she abdicated. Nana Dwaben Serwaa II, is still alive and well over a 100yrs of age. She lives in Dwaben, in Ashanti and in Ghana.

1969-94 Dwabenhemaa Nana Akosua Akyaamaa II
She succeeded Nana Dwaben Serwaa II, who abdicated in that year. She reigned as Queen of Dwaben, for a 25years, till she crossed the Great River in 1994. Her daughter, Nana Akosua Akyaamaa III, succeeded her on the Queenship throne of Dwaben. Her son, Nana Otuo Serebour II, is the present King of Dwaben.

1994- Dwabenhemaa Nana Akosua Akyaamaa III
Nana is a very astute Queen, wielding significant power and rules concurrently with her brother, Nana Otuo Serebour II, who is the Dwabenhene. Apart from ruling with her brother, she acts as his chief adviser cum admonisher and also, in Dwaben tradition, she is the ''mother'' of the King.

Ga-Adamge

Around 1610 Queen Dodi Akaibi

Kokofu

Around 1600 Queen Nana Ankeyo Nyame

Around 1620 Queen Nana Bempomaa

Nsuta

Around 1600 Queen Nana Ikuro

Around 1630-Around 60 Queen Nana Yita

Around 1660-17?? Queen Nana N.N.
Succeeded aunt

Kingdom of Okyeman

1765-83 Nana Obirikorang Aboree
Her reign was generally uneventful. However, Ayewa Dankwa, the daughter of the Akyem royal and the Wassaw King escaped from Wassaw with a golden stone and crusher for preparing wisa medicine. On her return to Akyem Abuakwa, she was enstooled Queen Mother and named Ayewa Bota. The golden stone and crusher are state treasures.

1784-98 Nana Twum Ampofo
She formed an alliance with the Akwapem chiefs and helped Ada defeated the Anlo. However, the Anlo's attacked again and the Okyenhene and the Akuapem chiefs were captured. On his return to Abuakwa, Nana Twum Ampofo was deposed. During his reign, an Akyem royal, Asor Prete marriage a Wassaw King. Their daughter, Ayewa Dankwa would come back to Abuakwa to become a Queen Mother

 

Mankessim Traditional Area

?-2006- Omanhemaa Nana Araba Otua II
As Queen Mother she is involved in the running of the area.

 

 

Last update 14.01.17