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Asantehene celebrates Akwasidae
Kumasi, March, 26, Ghanadot/GNA- Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,
Asantehene, on Sunday sat in state to receive homage at the
Manhyia Palace in Kumasi as part of activities to mark
Akwasidae.
People from all walks of life were at the palace to be part
of this great festivity.
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Dr. Kwame Addo
Kufuor, Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister
of Interior and Mr Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Minister of
Manpower, Youth and Employment were among the dignitaries
that went to Manhyia to grace the occasion.
Others were, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey, Chief Executive of
Ghana @ 50 Secretariat, Lieutenant-General J.B. Danquah,
Chief of Defence Staff, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi
Metropolitan Chief Executive and Deputy Commissioner of
Police Frank Adu-Poku, the Ashanti Regional Police
Commander.
Chiefs and other royal families including members of the
public clad in black and white cloths in happy mood danced
to Kete, Adowa and Fontonfrom; traditional dance, before the
arrival of the Asantehene.
Glaring at the Palace were diplomats and tourists who
resistibly took photographs of the Asantehene and people
displaying the cultural heritage of Asante.
It was all culture at its best as horn blowers blew their
horns with multi coloured umbrellas fluttered all over the
Palace to give meaning to the festival.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu was treated to rhythmic appellations,
which he listened in an attentive mood as the palace
remained quite.
The Vice-President supported by Dr Nathelda, Consular
General of Thailand presented some drinks to the Asantehene.
Many other individuals, groups and organizations and the
ministers also presented some drinks, sheep and cash to
Otumfuo.
The West African Tourism Transport Union donated 10 million
cedis to the Otumfuo Education Fund and assorted drinks.
The Alumni of Mensah Sarbah Hall of University of Ghana also
presented one million cedis to the Fund, assorted drinks,'T'
shirts of the Hall and a painting of Mensah Sarbah while Pro
Savings and Credit and Loans Bank also presented 10 million
cedis to the fund and assorted drinks to Asantehene.
When the Asante Students Union and State Boys' school, Old
Boys and Girls Association appeared to greet the Asantehene
and introduced themselves, he used the opportunity to speak
on the importance of education.
Oumfuo Osei Tutu said education was the backbone of the
survival and development of any nation and urged them to
continue to encourage students to take their studies
seriously.
The Asantehene said he was prepared to support all their
endeavours to ensure that education was really improved to
enhance the socio-economic and political development of the
country.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu at the end of the day as custom demanded
distributed drinks to the chiefs and dignitaries who were at
the palace.
GNA
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