Individual denies responsibility for cutting down ancient Komfo Anokye kola tree in Ghana

A man has been brought to court for cutting down a famous 300-year-old kola tree in southern Ghana. The incident has caused uproar among Ghanaians online after pictures of the felled tree in the town of Feyiase surfaced. The kola tree was a significant part of the Ashanti Kingdom's history and was known for its healing powers. It had become a popular tourist attraction for both locals and foreigners. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charges of causing unlawful damage and has been granted bail. The man's identity has not been disclosed. According to local legend, the tree grew in the exact spot where a renowned priest named Komfo Anokye spat a kola nut on the ground in the early 1700s. The community believed that the black and white seeds of the kola tree possessed the ability to cure ailments and ward off curses. Despite being in the middle of a major road connecting Kumasi to Lake Bosomtwe, the tree had been spared during the construction of the highway due to its popularity. The motive behind its recent felling remains unclear. The director of research at Manhyia Palace, Osei-Bonsu Safo Kantanka, stated that the site of the tree holds great historical significance for the Ashanti Kingdom. It was the location where the Ashanti people fought for independence against the powerful kingdom of Denkyira in the Battle of Feyiase. Kantanka mentioned that this spot also marked the defeat of the people of Denkyira by the Asantes. Komfo Anokye, who is said to have planted the tree, was a revered fetish priest known for acting as a mediator between the spirit world and the living. According to oral tradition, he buried a sword on the premises of a hospital in Kumasi that bears his name. The presence of the kola tree served as a constant reminder of his heroic deeds.