By Isaac Nsiah Foster
March 19, 2025
The elders of the Antoa Zongo community have petitioned the newly installed chief of Antoa, Nana Kwaku Ware III, over the selection of the town’s first-ever Sarki Zongo (Zongo chief).
Led by Hon. Abdul Fatau Yahaya, a former assembly member for the Abirem Electoral Area in the Kwabre East Municipality and a representative of the Songhai community in the Ashanti Region, the elders paid a courtesy visit to Nana Kwaku Ware III on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
According to Hon. Yahaya, the purpose of their visit was to officially inform the traditional leadership of their readiness to appoint a Zongo chief, with the hope that such a move would promote infrastructure development in the community, including the construction of Arabic schools, mosques, and other amenities.
Speaking after the meeting, Hon. Yahaya urged the youth of the Antoa Zongo community to remain calm and avoid any acts that could undermine the selection process.
“I would like to entreat everyone to put aside the Antoa Zongo chieftaincy affairs for some time because the Antoahene has just been installed. He will need time to reflect on any decision he and his elders shall embark on. I thank the newly installed Antoahene, Nana Kwaku Ware III, his elders, and the Zongo community leaders for their commitment to maintaining peace in the community as we work towards selecting the first-ever Sarki Zongo,” he said.
The Origins of Zongo Communities
The term Zongo originates from the Hausa word Zango, meaning “a camping place for trading caravans.” Historically, Zongos were established as trade hubs within West Africa’s long-distance trading networks.
The History of the Asante Zongo
Northern Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian immigrants, whose descendants form today’s Zongo communities, began settling in Kumasi around 1896, following the British establishment of a resident in the city.
Meanwhile, Antoa, a town renowned for its powerful river deity, Antoa Nyamaa, regarded as the spiritual supreme court of Asanteman, has yet to install a Zongo chief.
Support for Alhaji Adamu Seidu
The Antoa Zongo elders have thrown their support behind Alhaji Adamu Seidu, popularly known as Alhaji Demus, a respected cattle breeder and philanthropist in the community.
“We have been cautiously rallying behind a young, energetic developer, Alhaji Adamu Seidu, who has been actively engaged in philanthropic work within the Antoa Zongo community for more than a decade. He commands respect, is peaceful, and is highly respected. Such a person deserves to be selected for the position,” the elders stated.
Endorsement from Kumasi Sarki Zongo Palace
An endorsement letter from the Kumasi Sarki Zongo Palace, signed by its General Secretary, Abdalah Alin-Tofa, and intercepted by this reporter, confirmed their support for Alhaji Adamu Seidu’s selection.
“In accordance with tradition, the Sarki Zongo Palace seeks the consent of Nana Antoahene, on behalf of the Antoa Zongo community, to present Adamu Seidu for approval and to perform the necessary traditional rites before his installation,” the letter stated.
It further emphasized that Adamu Seidu’s leadership would contribute to the peaceful development of the area and foster social cohesion among the various communities.
So far, 28 members of the Antoa Zongo community have appended their signatures to endorse Alhaji Adamu Seidu, a k.a Alhaji Demus as the first-ever Sarki Zongo of Antoa.
