The Akuffo Home, Santewase, Akropong-Akuapem, which has been developed into a heritage and tourist centre, was built by the late Okuapehene, Nana Kwasi Akuffo in the year 1891, before he ascended the Ofori Stool of Akropong. Nana Kwasi Akuffo ruled the people of Akuapem twice. The first was between 1895 and 1907 and the second between 1920 and 1927.  His story depicts one of leadership, greatness, excellence, nationalism, culture, and family. 

This great man, a family hero has been credited with several great attributes that go beyond just having a family home or heritage site.  The ancient edifice is steep deep in history and tradition and can only be one that has been preserved by a strong family that wants to share this valuable history with the world.  The Heritage home tells the story of Nana Kwasi Akuffo, a lonely boy being the only child after the parents lost his only sibling and decided very early in life to give birth to as many children as he could, possibly to compensate for a lonely childhood and living this dream with 147 children (127 survived) by from 62 wives, hailing from of the 17 towns of Akuapem.  Nana Kwasi Akuffo died in 1927 and at the time of his death, he had 54 great-grandchildren.  The late king is said to have more than three thousand descendants.

Nana Kwasi Akuffo, had several notable memories to his name.  He was a member of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society and is said to have established himself as one of the most enlightened chiefs of his time.  History has him elected the Provincial Member of the Legislative Council after attending the first meeting of the joint Provincial Council of Chiefs in 1926.  It is on record that he pleaded for the extension of the railway line to Kumasi to be constructed through Pakro, Mangoase and Asuoya, all in the Eastern Region, to improve the living conditions of his people.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements, UAC Textile in 1925 designed a special cloth named “Akuffo Ahenni fisro,” hence the cross in the middle of the textile to show that his kingship was made in heaven.  The main objective of this project is to use the remarkable history of the Akuapem king to showcase the culture and achievements of the people of Akropong and Akuapem to create a facility for indigenes and visitors to know and learn about the Akuapem culture. 

Our tourism sites tend to attract young and able-bodied persons.  The Heritage Foundation seeks to be able to replicate within the architecture of all culture heritage facilities, safety mechanisms, mobility aids to expand the visitation opportunities to a wider demographic of tourists especially the elderly.  The Akuffo Heritage Home will be upgraded and equipped with structures to support the health and safety of ‘ALL’ (i.e. young, elderly, disabled and physically impaired) tourist/visitors. We also seek to step up the experience using technology such as a virtual interactive platform, an interactive website portal which records personal experiences of visitor to the Home.