Information posted in the University of Iowa Website states that the Kwahu, whose population is 65,000, are members of the larger Akan ethnic group living in southern Ghana (3 Nov. 1998). They are ruled by a Traditional Council of Chiefs headed by a "Kwahumanhene" (Ghanaian Chronicle 3 Nov. 1999).

No reports on the castration of Kwahu tribesmen who bathe the queen mother, nor on state protection available to such individuals could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Ghanaian Chronicle. 3 November 1999. "Kwahu Chiefs Concerned at Upsurge of Tree Felling." http://www.africanews...nvron/stories/19991103_featl.htm.[Accessed: 21 Jan. 2000]

University of Iowa. 3 November 1998. "Kwahu Information." http://www.lime.weeg.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/kwahu.html[Accessed: 21 Jan. 2000]

Africa Confidential [London]. 1998-1999.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1998.

Amnesty International. 1999. Amnesty International Report 1999. New York: Amnesty International USA.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998 1999 United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Press.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File.

Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 1992. 12th ed. Edited by Barbra F. Grimes. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge].1998-1999.

Four oral sources contacted did provide information on the requested subject.

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