Otumfuo Osei Tutu II addressing the gathering
THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has stated emphatically that he is not affiliated to any political party in the country, clarifying that he only works with government in power to accelerate national development.
According to the respected monarch, he has virtually worked closely with all the successive presidents that have occupied that highest office in the land since his ascension to the revered Golden Stool of the Asante Kingdom in 1999.
“I know that being the Asantehene puts me in a respectable and unique position so, I should be politically neutral and that’s what I have remained since I became Otumfuo. I don’t do politics but I work with governments in power for growth,” he said.
The Asantehene, who was addressing a sizable number of Ghanaians in Canada over the weekend, said he has over the years been wrongly accused of belonging to one political party, emphasising that all those speculations are false.
“I offered wise counsel and direction to all the former presidents, including John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, Evans Atta Mills, Nana Akufo-Addo and now President John Dramani Mahama in the interest of our country’s growth,” he said.
Don’t Dump Your Culture
Otumfuo strongly cautioned Ghanaians in the diaspora not to dump their rich culture in exchange for foreign and alien culture, reminding them that their Ghanaian culture shows their nature hence urged them to jealously preserve it wherever they are.
He further urged them to work assiduously to bequeath their rich culture and traditions to their children born outside Ghana, so that they would not lose their Ghanaian identity when they grow.
“You carry the resilience, the intellect, and the warm hospitality in your daily lives. Do not lose your identity. Teach your children our language, customs and values”, the Asantehene admonished his very attentive audience.
He said Ghanaians in the diaspora should teach their children how to speak Ghanaian language, dress in Ghanaian clothes and eat Ghanaian foods, among others, so that they would know and be proud of where they come from.
Otumfuo also entreated Ghanaians in the diaspora to be law-abiding citizens by always respecting the laws of their host countries so that they would not have issues with the law, reminding them that they are ambassadors of Ghana.
In attendance at the event, held at Sankofa in Toronto were Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, NPP 2024 running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh aka ‘Napo’ and a huge number of Ghanaians in Canada.
In a related development, Otumfuo safely arrived at the Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi to a rousing welcome from his foreign trips to Poland and Canada on Sunday. The King was met at the airport by top dignitaries.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi