Akan Akan may refer to:
People and languages
*Akan people, an ethnic group in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire
*Akan language, a language spoken by the Akan people
*Kwa languages, a language group which includes Akan
*Central Tano languages, a language group w ...
nations of
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
, the Omanhene (''Pl. Amanhene)'' is the title of the supreme traditional ruler ('king') in a region or a larger town. The omanhene is the central figure and institution of the nation. Officially, he has no function in the current Ghanaian political setup, but, has enormous influence on the people that constitute it. Today 'Hene' can be found in titles of other rulers in Ghanaian nations. For example, the chief of the Dagomba in the north of Ghana is known as the 'Dagombahene'.
The Akan omanhene and collectively the ''Ahemfo'' are major land owners, and are the heads of an essentially feudal system. They commit the land they theoretically hold in trust to caretakers.
Amanhene are appointed by ''Ahemma (''
queen mother
A queen mother is a former queen, often a queen dowager, who is the mother of the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since the early 1560s. It arises in hereditary monarchies in Europe and is also used to describe a number of ...
s) that are often but not necessarily their birth mothers, but are always a direct matrilineal relative. Dynastic succession tends to follow a matrilineal pattern. The exception to this is found, though, in a few Akan states such as
Elmina
Elmina, also known as Edina by the local Fante people, Fante, is a town and the capital of the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal District, Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem District on the south coast of Ghana in the Central Region, Ghana, Centra ...
.
Not all Akan nations have the Omanhene as the supreme ruler. The Ashanti, for example, have as the supreme ruler the person of the
Asantehene
The is the title for the monarch of the historical Ashanti Empire as well as the ceremonial ruler of the Ashanti people today. The Ashanti royal house traces its line to the Oyoko (an ''Abusua'', or "clan") Abohyen Dynasty of Nana Twum and t ...
( or 'Emperor'), who is superior to the Amanhenes of
Asanteman
The Asante Empire (Asante Twi: ), today commonly called the Ashanti Empire, was an Akan state that lasted between 1701 to 1901, in what is now modern-day Ghana. It expanded from the Ashanti Region to include most of Ghana as well as parts of I ...
Sanaahene Sanaahene is the title given to the royal treasurer. The title Sa-hene, is used primarily in Ghana and is given to a traditional ruler who is considered capable of leading the warring groups of the area. The Sa-hene is mandated to aid the paramount ...
of
Oguaa
Cape Coast is a city, fishing port, and the capital of Cape Coast Metropolitan District and Central Region of Ghana. It is one of the country's most historic cities, a World Heritage Site, home to the Cape Coast Castle, with the Gulf of Guinea ...
-
Nana Kofi Obiri Egyir II
Nana Kofi Obiri Egyir II is a Ghanaian businessman and traditional ruler. He is the Sanaahene of the Oguaa traditional area. He owns the hospitality facility Sanaa Lodge in the Central Region of Ghana. He was appointed to the Council of State ...
* Ga
* Osudoku
* Shai
* Ningo
* Prampram
* Kpone
* Ada
* La
* Ngleshie Alata
* Nungua
* Osu
* Tema
* Teshie
Western Region
Western North Region
* Sefwi-Anwiaso -
Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II
Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi is a Ghanaian traditional ruler and Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso traditional area. He is currently the president of Western Region House of Chiefs. He became the president of the National House of Chiefs on November 12, ...