Asantehene is Behind Most Infrastructural Projects in Ashanti Region- Adutwum

The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has revealed many of the infrastructural projects in the Ashanti Region see life as a result of the influence of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

According to him, but for His Majesty, numerous projects would be left untouched and uncompleted.

One such project is the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Teaching Hospital, which began during the era of former President John Agyekum Kufuor who exited office in 2008.

The project meant to train health professionals in the country stalled for decades before the intervention of the King brought life to it following his inspection of the facility a year ago.

Speaking at the climax of the Chancellor’s Week celebration at the KNUST on May 10, 2024, the Education Minister, said 50% of the funds to complete the facility had been released and expressed hopes of seeing the project completed by the end of the year.

“Sometimes when we see facilities coming up, you don’t know what Otumfuo said in his office that led to it.”

Hailing the enormous power he bears yet delivered in humility, the Minister expressed his gratitude to the King for all his interventions.

“You wield so much power but you don’t show power. You are so powerful and yet so humble.”

Celebrating His Majesty’s chancellorship, he said, “We are grateful for all the work you have done for KNUST. I’m so happy that my university has you as our Chancellor. KNUST is a premier university. You came to this institution when we needed it the most. You came here when enrolment of this university was just 8,000. Otumfuo, your leadership has seen 1000% growth, growing from 8000 to 80,000 students.”

“Most of the things you have done, the ordinary Ghanaian may not know. When we needed close to ¢200,000,000 to reform education, when the funding was in jeopardy, you stepped in and talked to your friends at the World Bank and the money came through.

“You gave a lifeline support to Ghanaian youth when they needed the most. Before Free Senior High School, you gave them free senior high school. The Otumfuo Foundation provided so much support for students with no money. You even went beyond the Asante Kingdom to the rest of the country because you are truly a father of the whole nation. Many young men and women have become lawyers, engineers, teachers and doctors because you offered them a lifeline. Those who had no hope of going to Senior High School and beyond went beyond because you had a vision that every young man and woman should be given the core opportunity and that we need to create a more equitable society where there is no gap between the advantaged and the disadvantaged.”

He also elaborated on the King’s role in fostering peace and unity in the country.