Otumfuo and King Mswati III exchanging pleasantries before his departure
HIS ROYAL Majesty, King Mswati III of Eswatini, has returned home safely after a successful four-day working tour in the country.
The king and his huge entourage left Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region over the weekend after attending several topnotch events in the country.
Significantly, King Mswati III was in the country at the invitation of his friend, His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
On his first day in the country, the visiting monarch had a fruitful bilateral discussions with President John Dramani Mahama in Accra.
During their discussions, the two dignitaries stressed on the need for Ghana and Eswatini to deepen their socio-economic ties to benefit both countries.
King Mswati III then flew to Kumasi to tour the Manhyia Palace Museum and also addressed members of the National House of Chiefs.
He then visited the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), where he admonished the KMA to sustain their local governance system.
King Mswati III was honoured by the Asantehene with a grand durbar of chiefs and people of Asanteman at the Manhyia Palace.
In his address, the king of Eswatini entreated Africans, especially chiefs, to jealously protect their rich culture and traditions by documenting them.
Otumfuo and King Mswati III also attended the 58th Special Congregation of the KNUST, which was graced by Vice President Jane Opoku Agyeman. He afterwards left the country.
He also toured the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where he urged students from Eswatini studying in the school to protect their heritage.
Otumfuo then organised a dinner to honour King Mswatini III and his wife at the Manhyia Palace, where he gifted the visiting monarch a 22 carat gold chain.
Lady Julia Osei Tutu, Otumfuo’s wife also gifted the wife King Mswati a 22 carat gold chain with bracelet and earrings to match at the same event.
In return, King Mswati III and his wife presented beautiful gifts from their country to the Asantehene and Lady Julia, amid applause from the crowd.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Kumasi