Kokofu

History

There are many variations on the origin of Kokofu.

1. "When Kobia Anguanfi came to the throne, he said that Assumya .. was not a convenient place for him to dwell with his families so he sent his hunter to seek for a place so that they may dwell there. This hunter in searching for a place, found a gardiner by name Kokor who had made a large garden or Affuo (the Ashanti name for a garden). So this hunter returned and told the King and so the king used to make a promenade to the garden of Mr. Kokor. When they were accustomed of the place, the king said to his families that he will go and make a dwelling at Kokor Affuo, i.e. the garden of Kokor, so they all went and dwell there. When they had settled there, they at first called the place A Kokor Affuo, and afterwards the place came to be called Kokofu."

2. "the name Kokofu originated from 'koo-ko afuom' meaning soft cocoyam farm"

3. Ellis gives; "Koko-fu probably means People of the Hill (Koko), there being a well-marked range of hills in the Kokofu District." However Ellis's etym. is not always reliable.

4. R.S.Rattray: "The first person of the Oyoko clan to come from the ground at 'Santemanso was Ankyewa Nyame. She .. had a daughter, Pinamin Panyin. .. When the Oyoko people first came from Omanso to settle at the place now called Kokofu, they found a certain hunter, by name Odabo, and his mother, Aberewa Pofi, in possession of the land. Pinamin Panyin requested permission to settle there and make a farm. She found, on trying to do so, that the weeds sprang up very quickly, and also that the soil was very red; hence she called the place Kokofu (red and weedy)." ("Ashanti Law and Constitution", p. 198).

Education

Kokofu is known for the Oppong Memorial Secondary School. The school is a second cycle institution.