From:  Kinsley E. Hope, Kumasi


A grand durbar of chiefs and people of Asante was held at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, yesterday, to climax the 10th anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, II.

It was also attended by an impressive cast of local and foreign dignitaries, including the President, John Evans Attah-Mills.

It was exactly 10 years yesterday, when the 59-year-old monarch was enstooled as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool of the Asante Kingdom. Otumfuo Osei Tutu succeeded Otumfuo Opoku Ware, II, who died on February 25, 1999.

The Asante kingdom which has been in existence since the 17th century, is today made up of about one-third of the population of Ghana, and it comprises 65 paramountcies spread in the Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions.

From afar, one could only see beautiful umbrellas that had formed forests of canopies round the fringe of the pitch.

It was a wonderful display of colour as the rich kente cloth was ‘painted’ almost everywhere, with the Asantehene clothed in a unique kente and adorned with gold ornaments all over the body.

Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were former President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, Festus Mogoe of Botswana; Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, Sierra Leone; Jose Maria Arnar, former Prime Minister of Spain, the Sir Chief G.O. Igbenidion, Esama of Benin kingdom, in the Edo State of Nigeria, Prince Sobambla who represented the king of Swaziland, as well as other important traditional rulers in Ghana.

Also present were the Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, the clergy, Members of Parliament and some ministers.

The peak of the ceremony was when the Asantehene honoured the past presidents for their contributions to Africa’s democracy and other developments.

Mr. Rawlings was offered a medal and christened ‘Agyewodin’, which reflects the sort of cheers he receives from his fans.

All those honoured were offered a piece of kente cloth and a citation.

The celebration kicked off on February 9, with various activities such as photo exhibitions, football matches, musical shows durbars and quizzes.

The Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who id 105 years old arrived briefly, paid homage to her son and departed.

That was after President Mills, accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu, had exchanged greetings with the Otumfuo. As tradition demanded, the Asanthene delegated the Paramount Chief of Juaben, Otuo Serebour and other chiefs to return the greetings to the President.

In an address, President Mills was full of praise for the Asantehene for such a ceremony which, he said, unified the entire African continent judging from the dignitaries present.

He said it was indeed, 10 years of action in education, and ensuring environmental protection, among others.

He said it was not surprising that many people came from all over the world to catch a glimpse of Asante culture because “you have touched the lives of people and you have been a unifying factor of one people with a common destiny”.

President Attah-Mills prayed that the Asantehene continued to ensure effective leadership.

Earlier, the Asantehene said that the celebration was not only for the Asantes but the entire Ghana and the African continent.

He said it was his desire to put the development of the people first, stressing that African chiefs had a mandate to uplift the lot of their people and utilizes the abundant influence they wield to partner central governments to deliver social and economic benefits to the people.

He touched on the establishment of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation which was launched the previous day, and said it aimed at serving the people of Africa in diverse ways in the areas of education and health development.



Source:
              Ghanaian Times                           page 3                        Monday, April 27, 2009