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Resilience, versatility and service: The story of Ohemea Odiasempa Abena Ayeba Okani I
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Ohemea Odiasempa Abena Ayeba Okani I, known in private life as Mrs Susan Essilfie, is a woman of many parts-a royal, a mother, an entrepreneur, a sports enthusiast, and above all, a symbol of resilience. Her life story weaves together the threads of tradition, business, service, and personal strength, making her one of the most dynamic figures within her community and beyond.
Her roots in royalty run deep. Born into royal household, her late father served as one of the chiefs, and by lineage, her destiny was tied to leadership and service.
Yet, her elevation to the stool was not just about tradition-it was about her willingness to serve.
Speaking to The Spectator at her residence at Spintex in Accra, Ohemea Okani I of Adukrom Akuapim, recalled one of the uncles in her royal family emphasised the importance of sustaining their heritage and supporting their people.
For her, stepping into that responsibility was considered an honourable calling.
She stated that the role of a Queen mother was not ceremonial but rather carries a lot of weight: the discipline to uphold values, the responsibility to guide the youth, and the obligation to contribute to development.
She believes that Queen mothers were meant to safeguard livelihoods, encourage progress, and serve as role models in their communities.
“The main aim is to support the township, especially in youth development,” she notes.
She however admitted that the role comes with challenges, particularly financial, as many traditional leaders were not on formal payrolls.
Ohemea Okani I said without an independent source of income, it can be difficult to fulfill these duties effectively.
That is where her entrepreneurial skills and strength shines. Over the years, Mrs Essilfie has built a diversified business portfolio spanning construction, cleaning services, textiles, detergents, and food and drinks production.
Previously, she was active in the fisheries trade, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a fishmonger.
Although she eventually left the trade due to market challenges and losses, the lessons she carried forward about resilience, bargaining, and perseverance continue to shape her entrepreneurial approach.
Her versatility is perhaps most visible in sports. For years, she owned and managed Sutick Gym at Tema Community 1, Site 15, a commercial gym that attracted footballers, musicians, and fitness enthusiasts.
Her passion for sports grew naturally—she was always active, loved physical activity, and found joy in encouraging others to train.
From that base, she was drawn to boxing, a sport she considers both tough and inspiring.
To her, boxing was more than entertainment; it is business, discipline, and a powerful tool for channeling youthful energy into productive outcomes.
“Boxing is a big-time business,” she says with conviction.
She dreams of seeing Ghana reclaim her reputation as a boxing powerhouse, putting more young athletes on the global stage.
She also advocates for women to take up the sport, not only for fitness but also as a pathway to empowerment and financial independence.
Her vision is already inspiring the next generation—her son recently completed a course in boxing promotion and is now awaiting his license to officially step into the business side of the sport.
Beyond her businesses and sports initiatives, Ohemea Okani I has also carved strong niche in philanthropy.
She is the founder of Royals of Valour International, a non-profit organisation that supports and trains women for free in soap making, baking and other vocational skills.
So far, about 200 women have benefited from this initiative, gaining practical skills that enable them to earn an income and support their families.
For her, empowering women with skills is one of the surest ways of breaking cycles of poverty and dependency.
Balancing tradition, business, and family has not been easy, particularly after she lost her husband during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Left to raise two children on her own, she leaned on faith and determination. Her daughter is now pursuing music, while her son is preparing to make his mark as a boxing promoter.
Though the journey has been tough, she sees her children’s progress as one of her greatest achievements.
As a devout Christian, she attributes her strength to God and also acknowledges the values of discipline, compassion and resilience instilled by her parents.
She recalls how her mother’s work as a fishmonger required long hours, frequent travel, and unwavering determination. Those lessons taught her never to rely solely on others and to take pride in hard work.
Ohemea Okani I urged young women to work hard, learn a trade and not rely on anyone else for survival.
She stressed that in today’s world, self-reliance is not optional, it is essential.
She cautions against the modern tendency of young people to seek shortcuts or instant wealth, encouraging them instead to focus on skills, discipline, and perseverance.
She also challenges traditional gender roles, pointing out that no field should be seen as exclusively for men or women.
Whether in construction, trucking, or sports management, she believes women can thrive if they were determined and prepared. “The most important thing is to do it right, make your money, and plan for the future,” she emphasised.
- By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
For nearly a year, one of the most revered stools in the Asante Kingdom remained vacant, leaving a quiet but unmistakable sense of expectation hanging over the Manhyia Palace.
Every sitting of Asanteman Council, every major traditional ceremony, and every conversation within royal circles carried the same lingering question: Who would become the next Asantehemaa?
Last Monday, that long wait finally gave way to certainty and historic celebration.
In a development warmly received across the length and breadth of the Asante Kingdom, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, formally accepted the nomination and welcomed the newly enstooled Asantehemaa in a grand ceremony steeped in age-old tradition at the Manhyia Palace.
Born Margaret Serebour, the 79-year-old retired educationist has ascended the revered Kusiamoah Stool. She has been enstooled under the stool name Nana Yaa Akyaa II, officially becoming the 15th Asantehemaa in the rich history of the Asante Kingdom.
The historic enstoolment marks the end of months of quiet consultations and meticulous traditional processes following the passing of Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III in August 2025.
Since her demise, the prestigious office of Asantehemaa—one of the highest traditional institutions in Ghana—had remained vacant, with Asanteman patiently awaiting the customary selection of a worthy successor.
Nana Yaa Akyaa II brings an impeccable and deeply historic royal pedigree to the stool.
She is a direct granddaughter of Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh I, the legendary Asante monarch who, alongside Nana Yaa Asantewaa, was exiled to the Seychelles islands by the British after the Anglo-Asante War.
Furthermore, she is a niece of Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II and a biological sister of the late Nana Akwasi Agyemang, the prominent, long-serving former Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.
A devout Christian, the new Queen mother is also a well-known, dedicated worshipper at the Anglican Church in AshTown, Kumasi.
Palace sources describe Nana Yaa Akyaa II as a woman widely admired within the Royal family for her humility, patience, calm disposition, and unique ability to unite people.
These qualities are regarded as essential for the occupant of an office that seamlessly blends moral authority, cultural stewardship, and traditional leadership.
An opinion leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that Manhyia is once again witnessing a moment of profound historical and cultural significance—one that closes a chapter of waiting and opens a vibrant new page in the centuries-old story of the Asante Kingdom.
Within the constitutional and cultural framework of the Asante Kingdom, the Asantehemaa occupies a position second only to the Asantehene.
She serves as the ultimate custodian of the royal matrilineal lineage and bears the singular responsibility of nominating a successor to the Golden Stool whenever the throne becomes vacant.
Beyond her critical role in succession, she operates as a trusted co-ruler and adviser to the Asantehene, acts as the ultimate leader of women in Asanteman, and serves as a vital arbiter in family and customary disputes.
With her formal customary rites completed on Thursday, July 9, and her acceptance by the Asantehene finalised, Nana Yaa Akyaa II begins her historic reign, anchoring the ancient traditions of Asanteman into a modern era.
The development also paves the way for the preparation of the final funeral rites of the late Nana Yaa Konadu Yiadom III, as ‘Dote Yie’ had already been observed.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The Member of Parliament for Damongo and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has called for stronger environmental legislation to enable African countries to fully benefit from nature-based solutions while building climate resilience, creating jobs and promoting sustainable economic growth.
He said although several African countries, including Ghana, had made significant progress in developing policies to protect the environment and promote carbon markets, stronger legal backing was needed to ensure their long-term implementation and attract greater investment.
Mr. Jinapor made the call during a panel discussion at a public lecture organised by the Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) of the University of Ghana and the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA) to commemorate the 2026 Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) at the Cedi Conference Centre of the university on Tuesday.
Speaking on the theme, “Africa at a Crossroads: Can Nature-Based Solutions Deliver Climate Resilience, Jobs, Equity and Justice?”, Mr. Jinapor stressed that research should not remain in academic journals but must influence public policy and national development.
He said research should also be linked to business and financing so that scientific discoveries could be transformed into practical solutions that improved livelihoods and generated economic value.
According to him, governments across Africa must demonstrate political commitment by establishing policies and regulatory systems that would enable their countries to benefit from the growing global market for nature-based solutions.
Mr. Jinapor said Ghana had already taken important steps by developing a national framework for carbon trading, creating opportunities for communities to benefit financially from environmental conservation.
He disclosed that the country had successfully distributed about five million dollars through a benefit-sharing arrangement under its carbon market programme to support local communities and researchers.
The former Lands and Natural Resources Minister also highlighted Ghana’s achievements in responsible forest management, noting that the country was among the first in the world, alongside Indonesia, to issue Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licences for legally sourced timber exported to international markets.
He said successive governments had continued to strengthen environmental policies and expand certified forest resources to meet international standards.
Contributing to the discussion, the Regional Director for West and Central Africa of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mr. Balla Moussa Sidibé, said Africa’s future depended on protecting and restoring nature rather than exploiting it for short-term economic gains.
He described climate change as one of the continent’s biggest development challenges, affecting agriculture, food security, water resources, livelihoods and economic growth.
According to him, forests, wetlands, mangroves and healthy soils were strategic natural assets capable of reducing climate risks, improving food security and creating sustainable jobs if properly managed.
Mr. Sidibé cited the Congo Basin as one of the world’s most important ecosystems because of its role in storing carbon, conserving biodiversity and regulating rainfall, saying its protection was critical not only for Africa but for the global climate.
He called for increased investment in ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, ecotourism and other green sectors to create employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
Other panelists called for stronger collaboration among universities, governments and research institutions across Africa, arguing that countries facing similar environmental challenges should share knowledge and expertise instead of working in isolation.
They also stressed the need for trust, transparency and fairness in research partnerships to ensure the benefits of collaboration were shared equitably.
Touching on Monday’s floods in parts of Accra, the panelists said years of wetland destruction and poor land-use planning had significantly worsened flooding in the capital.
They explained that wetlands such as the Densu Delta and Sakumo Ramsar sites naturally absorb floodwaters and protect biodiversity but had come under increasing pressure from encroachment and degradation.
The Director of the Research and Innovation Directorate of the University of Ghana, Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, said the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa had become an important platform for promoting research, innovation and partnerships that addressed Africa’s development challenges.
He urged government, industry and academia to deepen collaboration to ensure research produced practical solutions that improved livelihoods and supported sustainable development.
He urged African governments to invest more in nature-based solutions, strengthen environmental laws and translate research into practical policies capable of building climate-resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies for future generations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
