Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, yesterday marked his 68th birthday and 19 years on the Golden Stool with a mammoth thanksgiving service at the St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Kumasi.
The monarch was ushered into the church auditorium with the blowing of traditional horns and drumming by some palace officials.
The religious event was attended by top government officials in the region led by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah; his deputy, Elizabeth Agyeman and Kumasi Mayor Osei Assibey Antwi, among others.
The Education Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka Napo, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South; Sammi Awuku, New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Youth Organizer and other party bigwigs were also present.
As expected, some prominent traditional rulers in the country, including the Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Serebuo – Chairman of the Council of State – and others also attended the service.
The service was used to offer prayers to God for long life, prosperity, sound health and His special protection for Otumfuo, his wife, children, the Asante royal family, Asanteman and Ghana in general.
Otumfuo’s Message
In a succinct speech read on his behalf by Nana Otuo Serebuo, Otumfuo, wholeheartedly thanked God for blessing him with another year in his life and on the Asante throne.
He also expressed gratitude to the people of Asanteman and Ghana in general for their invaluable support, which had made his reign very successful so far, urging them to continue to rally behind him to contribute to make Ghana a better place for all.
His Reign
Otumfuo, an accomplished businessman and then known in private life as Barimma Kwaku Duah, the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, who passed on after a short illness in 1999.
As the last born of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Otumfuo’s reign was met with high expectation as the people in Asanteman believed that he had all the qualities of a good leader.
And true to their expectation, Otumfuo’s reign during the past 19 years, has led to massive transformation of Asanteman and Ghana.
The several awards that he has won in Ghana and abroad clearly testify to this fact.
For instance, in the area of education, the Otumfuo Education Fund, which he set up after he was enstooled as the Asantehene, has helped several Ghanaian students who are from poor homes, to achieve their academic goals.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi