The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has marked 27 years since his enstoolment with a grand commemorative event celebrating leadership, unity, and national development, during which he honoured a wide range of prominent individuals whose contributions have shaped governance, business, diplomacy, and traditional authority in Ghana.
The ceremony, held in Kumasi under the overarching theme “Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development Through Royal Vision,” brought together leading figures from the political establishment, traditional councils, business community, diplomatic corps, and religious institutions, underscoring the Asantehene’s sustained influence as a unifying national figure.
Among those recognised were President John Dramani Mahama, former President Nana Akufo-Addo, and the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Mahamudu Bawumia, alongside senior security and business leaders including the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohunu. Other distinguished honourees included Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, Alex Apau Dadey of the KGL Group, Nick Danso, and Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, among several others.
The gathering also featured high level participation from international royalty, including Ogiame Atuwatse III of the Warri Kingdom in Nigeria, who attended with his wife, further reinforcing the event’s regional diplomatic significance.
During the celebration, the Asantehene commended Mr. Alex Apau Dadey, Founder and Executive Chairman of the KGL Group, for his continued support toward development initiatives within Asanteman. He encouraged him to sustain his contributions to national progress, particularly in areas aligned with healthcare, infrastructure, and social advancement.
A major highlight referenced at the event was the ongoing partnership between KGL Group and Asanteman on flagship development projects, including the KGL EVE Medical Centre at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the Kumasi Medical Village. The facility is designed to deliver specialised healthcare services, particularly in mental health, women’s health, and paediatric care, serving communities across the Ashanti Region and extending into the middle and northern belts of the country.
The commemorations also recalled KGL Group’s symbolic acquisition in December 2021 of the 24 karat Otumfuo commemorative gold coin, valued at one million Ghana cedis, an act undertaken in support of Asanteman development and cultural preservation initiatives. The coin was designed as a tribute to the Asantehene’s leadership and his contributions to peace and national cohesion.
Speaking at the event, business leader Sir Sam Jonah emphasised the significance of honouring leadership during lifetime achievements rather than posthumously, describing the commemorative gold coin as a deliberate effort to celebrate excellence while leaders are still able to witness recognition of their impact.
In remarks delivered on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama by Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, the Presidency acknowledged the Asantehene’s pivotal role in sustaining peace and mediating long standing chieftaincy disputes, particularly in areas such as Dagbon and Bawku. The statement credited his interventions as instrumental in maintaining national stability.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, highlighted the complementary relationship between traditional leadership and modern governance, noting that the moral authority of chieftaincy institutions, when exercised with wisdom, can reinforce national cohesion and facilitate dialogue in divided societies.
Similarly, the Olu of Warri described Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as a “guardian of peace,” crediting his nearly three decades of leadership with fostering stability not only within Ghana but also across the wider West African subregion.
The event, organised by E ON 3 Group in collaboration with the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Presidency and the Manhyia Palace, and headlined by KGL Group, concluded with renewed affirmations of partnership between traditional authority and national leadership in advancing development, peace, and economic transformation across Ghana and beyond.
