Kufuor, Sam Jonah Confer “Great” on Asantehene
Two of the country’s greats, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of Ghana and Sir Sam Jonah, a prominent businessman in the mining industry, have conferred upon Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the title “Great”, a description they both say is earned.
In their respective speeches delivered at the Birthday Dinner of His Majesty, they posited that Otumfuo has demonstrated greatness in his leadership over Asanteman and thereby the title.
Former President Kufuor indicated that the reign of Otumfuo in the past 25 years has achieved more positives.
“Under the leadership of Otumfuo for the past 25 years, so many positive things have come together in such a way that I wonder if anybody would call him King without adding the word great to him. If you are looking at social interventions in education and healthcare, I tell you, he epitomises the servant leader. His focus is obviously the people he leads without discrimination.”
For him, it was not a birthday celebration but a celebration of “great leadership”.
“I’ve been in public life for such a long time, perhaps 60 years and I can tell you what’s happening tonight is not just a celebration of a birthday. I believe it’s a celebration of great leadership… He has done so much to help governments. He’s done so well sort of to contribute to bringing peace in the nation Ghana. I wonder if there could be a president who would not want to benefit from his wisdom. He has interacted with all the presidents… and all to facilitate good governance.”
H.E. Kufuor sides with people who say His Majesty doesn’t look his age as he stated, “He is a very young 74. He is athletic. Every morning he is on the golf course.”
His wish is for Otumfuo to enjoy many more resourceful and productive years on earth.
In his remarks at the event, Sir Jonah, the Chancellor of the Cape Coast University asserted that though the world is inundated with leaders, “great” is an honour achieved by very few.
“Very few people deserve that honour. It is a milestone. 74 is a milestone but the importance of it is not in the number of years but in what you have done. Very few 74s can lay claim to the tremendous successes that this King has brought to his people.”
He thus gave a toast to the great king.
Otumfuo turned 74 on Monday, May 6, 2024.
He marked this with a Thanksgiving Service in the morning and dinner later in the day at the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Jubilee Hall at the Manhyia Palace.
Present at the lively event were the Asantehene and his wife, Lady Julia, Asanteman, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Ga Mantse Nii Tackie Teiku Tsuru II, Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, former Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sir Sam Jonah and many others.
The event witnessed performances from Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Tagoe Sisters, Touareg Band, Evangelist Diana Asamoah, Pat Thomas and Amakye Dede.
