The late Konor (Paramount Chief) of the Agotime Traditional Area, Nene Nuer Keteku III was on Saturday November 20, 2021 laid to rest following a ten-day long marking of his final funeral rites at Kpetoe in the Volta Region.
Until his demise, the late Konor who for 51 years ruled over the 37 towns and villages making up the Agotime Traditional Area and straddles between Ghana and Togo, was according to his subjects “a moving picture of events thrown on a screen”. He was instrumental in the birth of the Agbamevor Za (Kente Festival) celebrated annually by the chiefs and people of Agotime, and the promotion of tourism and culture in the Volta Region and Ghana as a whole.
The late Konor was the lead person on Ghana’s candidature on Kente and led a delegation to the United States of America (USA) to promote the teaching of the history of Kente and its uses, a feat which compelled many Universities and Colleges in the USA to start adorning their graduation ceremonies with stoles of Kente, which won him an award from the UNESCO for being the custodian of Ewe Kente cloth and a gold plate award from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as a development partner in trade and industry.
The late Konor, during his reign also played significant roles in the struggle for the location of the district capital of the old Adaklu-Anyigbe District which is now Agotime-Ziope District at Kpetoe, a bitter dispute between two peaceful communities but which did not spill over due to the courteous and diplomatic maturity of the late Nene Nuer Keteku III. He was an educationist whose desire was to see an educated and prosperous Agotime has been recognized as a cog in the establishment of the GRA Customs Training School at Kpetoe and a pivot in the establishment of the Agotime Senior High School (AGOSEC).
The late Konor was a soft spoken, tolerant and kind-hearted man who “picked his way through the streets of Agotime and beyond with an infectious smile, that exuded hope, encouragement and a promising future for his people. His children described him in a tribute as “our sunshine; the night light that shone around us. You covered us with love, warmth and generosity – your love knew no bounds and you gave more than you receive – no cry for help was ever ignored, no request or task was ever too big for you – you gave with all your heart expecting nothing in return – your rays of love extended to everyone including friends, co- workers, relatives and the whole of your chiefdom”.
His successor, Nene Nuer Keteku IV eulogized him for his discipline and dedication to the affairs of the traditional area noting that his demise was a big loss to the people of the area. The new Konor promised to continue in the footsteps of his predecessor to continue to build a united, peaceful and prosperous Agotime.
Known in private life as Senyo Kofi Akuffo, the late Nene Nuer Keteku III was born at Agotime Kpetoe on June 30, 1944 to Mr Akpani Akuffo and Madam Adzo Adzorgenu all of blessed memory. He spent his early childhood with his uncle the late Zikpuitor Anyravi in Ayoma-Lekanti , a village near Hohoe but later relocated to Kpetoe for his elementary education at the Roman Catholic Mission School where he successfully completed his seventh standard education in 1954. He proceeded to the Jasikan Training College where he successfully trained as a teacher.
In his final year at Jasikan Training College, the lot fell on him to ascend the great Ntsrifua Stool of Agotime as Konor (Paramount Chief) of the 37 towns and villages of Agotime and was subsequently enstoolled as the Konor on October 24, 1969. Nene Nuer Keteku III until his demise was a staunch member of the Global Evangelical Church and played a major role in the growth of the church in Agotime. He peacefully crossed the river to join his ancestors on June 4, 2020 after complaining of illness due to aging.
The late Konor was survived by six children.
By Nelson Ayivor || ghananewsonline.com.gh