WHAT YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT THE ROYAL ANNIVERSARY OF OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II

The Occupant of the Golden Stool of Asante, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has celebrated twenty (20) years since his coronation. The festivities to mark this occasion began on 9th March and ended on 12th May. 

In these past two (2) decades, the Asantehene has been a ruler with divided public opinion. 

The current Ashanti King is known in private life as Barima Kwaku Dua. He is the youngest of his mother’s five chidren born on 6th May, 1950.

His mother, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, became the longest reigning Asantehemaa in history when she died on 14th November, 2016, aged 111, and was buried on 19th January, 2017. 

She was the 13th Queenmother of the Ashanti history, ascending the throne in 1977 and staying for 39 years. Even as a boy, Barima Kwaku Dua was seen by his two uncles- the sitting Asantehene at the time, Otumfuo Sir Agyemang Prempeh II, and the Hiahene, Oheneba Mensah Bonsu to carry a special grace that would make him a great leader in the future. As a result, when he was only four years old he was weaned off his mother by Oheneba Mensah Bonsu and taken away from the palace to prevent him from becoming a spoiled royal child. 

When he came to secondary school age, he was sent forth to live with Nana Kwadwo Aduhene, the Omanhene of Sehwi Wiawso, in the Western Region, where he attended the Sehwi Wiawso Secondary School because his uncles did not want him to be associated with and spoiled by the other Asante royals who were then attending prestigious colleges in Kumasi. 

The Asantehene’s professional background is in accounting, having attended the University of Ghana’s Institute of Professional Studies in Accra before going to the United Kingdom to continue in accounting at the Kilburn Polytechnic and human resource development with public administration at the University of North London. 

In 1980, when he completed his courses in the UK, he worked as an accounts officer at Oxo, the British food-manufacturing company. Eventually, he returned home to Ghana in 1989 to set up his own business, representing some foreign mining companies. 

When Otumfuo Opoku Ware II died on 25th February, 1999, he contested the Golden Stool with six (6) others. 

In the end, the decision via the queen-mother, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who happened to be Barima Kwaku Dua biological mother retorted that he was chosen not because she was her biological mother rather it was the decision of the Golden Stool and the people.

On 26th April, 1999, Barima Kwaku Dua was sworn in as the 16th leader of the Ashanti kingdom to accept the responsibilities of occupying the Golden Stool. 

So twenty years on from his coronation on April 26, 1999, he is putting on a lavish anniversary program to mark his tenure as the 16th occupant of the sacred Golden Stool. 

To celebrate and partake in this festive occasion, multitudes throng to the Garden City, Kumasi. The flamboyant ceremony attracted dignitaries from Ghana and abroad. Among the Ghanaian dignitaries at the event on one Sunday included the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye and his family; Chief Justice, Sofia Akuffo and an entourage of judicial staff and former presidents, Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama. Correspondingly, the former Nigerian President and AU Chairperson, Olusegun Obasanjo, is among top African dignitaries at the opulent event.

Diplomats and royals from Namibia, Kuwait, Germany, China, Morocco, Latvia, Botswana and Palestine also graced the occasion.

SABASTINE NKRUMAH IDAHOSA