Places of Interest in Accra and Ghana- Sword of Okomfo Anokye

Location:
Within the grounds of the Okomfo anokye teaching hospital, Bantama, near Adum, Kumasi

painting of Okomfo anokye calling down the golden stool from the sky

Rather strangely situated inside the grounds of the Okomfo anokye teaching hospital is small covered area and what resembles the roof and circular wall of a wishing well.

Looking down over the small wall into the Inside of the "wishing well " can be seen sticking out of the ground the handle of a sword.

You could physically lean down and touch the handle but this is no longer allowed. The legend of Okomfo anokye is that he was a warrior and priest. As the photograph depicts he called down from the sky a golden stool, which became a symbol of authority so that even today a new incoming Ashanti King will sit on the stool once while being crowned.

Its said that Okomfo anokye also plunged the sword that can be seen today into the earth, and that if anyone can pull the sword back out of the ground the Ashanti kingdom will be finished. Many people have tried to pull the sword, even Classius Clay as he was known then tried while he was in Africa for the " rumble in the jungle " fight.

You are now not allowed to touch the sword without permission, if you think you can pull it they call a chief, but if you fail he will " deal with you " for wasting his time.

When I last visited a couple of years ago they had a video player on site giving a historical background to Okomfo anokye; its a quirky tourist spot to visit worth seeing if you visit the Military Museum at Adum, since Bantama is less than a mile from Adum .