The foremost example of an akrafena is the Mponponsuo (meaning "responsibility"), which belonged to Opoku Ware II.

The expert use of akrafena is also a martial art, utilising the blade in conjunction with knives, improvised weapons, street-fighting, hand-to-hand combat, joint locks, grappling and weapon disarming techniques, as well as using the martial art of akrafena unarmed.

The sheath may carry an embossment (abosodee) that comprises Ashanti symbols meant to evoke certain expressive messages.

The mpomponsuo (responsibility) sword of the Asantehene, for example, has an embossment of a coiled snake with a bird in its mouth.

In the 16th century and at the time of Denkyira, Akyem and Akwamu land warfare consisted mostly of spearmen and bowmen on foot and mounted swordsmen with Akan long swords (Afenatene).

Only two such swords existed and were wielded by the King's two bodyguards, who always stood on either side of him and held the nobility title of Ankobia.

However, they did strap it to their back at times when they were traveling through the rain-forest regions of Ashanti City-State or using other weapons such as spears and bows.

Asafo who are swordsmen in Akanland and in the Asantehene's court progress through four tiers of rank, at times referred to as levels, of their swordsmanship.

They are Executioners in the Akan court[5] • Akofo Asafo: Akanland's Warriors / Professional Soldiers.

[5] They could form groups of warriors, mercanaries and/or soldiers • Akofo Abrafoo: They are the Military Police of the Akan.

An Ankobia is chosen by the Akofo (Swordsmen) council[5] For the Atoprɛfoɔ, execution was in the form of bodily mutilations and gradual bleeding of the convict until he passed out due to the loss of blood.

The condemned person was not allowed be killed nor should he pass away until he is presented in his mutilated and bleeding state to Otumfoɔ.

Blade of an afenatene sword showing the akoma (heart), denkyem (crocodile), akuma (axe) and the sankofa bird.

The first Ashanti Akfrafena sword was created by Asantehene Nana Opoku Ware I (r. 1731 – 1742), and is the foremost example of Akrafena.

[5] It is said that there were 20 fighting postures in training; The Ashanti people practitioners of the past generally used low kicking techniques to distract, dismantle and disable the opponent when holding the sword in one hand and sheath in the other.