AsanteheneAt27: The World Converges In Honour of Otumfuo

The world’s greats have duly honoured and celebrated the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as a Pillar of Peace on the occasion of his 27th anniversary on the Golden Stool.

The Manhyia Palace was the centre of royalty, business, and governance on April 24, 2026, as Otumfuo hosted the ‘World-Meets-In-Ghana’ Executive Dinner Ball organized by EON3 and partners for the King.

The high-profile event drew former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, businessman Sir Sam Jonah, the Olu of Warri Kingdom in Nigeria, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, and his wife, Her Royal Highness Olori Atuwatse III.

Also present were Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama, politician Alan Kyerematen, Council of State member Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene, and captains of industry.

Mining Peace
Addressing the gathering, Chairman of the event Sir Sam Jonah stated that the Asantehene has, in the last 27 years, been “mining the most precious ore” — peace.

He used a metaphor from his experience in the mining sector to capture Otumfuo’s impact since ascending the Golden Stool in 1999.

According to him, the Asantehene’s reign proves that moral authority and dialogue can achieve what armies and courts cannot.

Sir Jonah stated that the Asantehene’s commitment to education aligns with his peace agenda. He explained that it forms part of an ambition to extend peacemaking across generations.

“An educated society creates its own conditions for peace. It builds institutions, it develops the capacity for resolving disagreements, it produces citizens who settle disputes with words, not weapons. In supporting education, Otumfuo is not only fulfilling a royal duty but is planting peace in soil that will bear fruit long after all of us in this room have taken our bow.”

Tradition and Investment
Mounting the podium, the Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Presidency, Kofi Okyere Darko, acknowledged the Asantehene’s consistency in tradition while highlighting its value to diaspora investment.

He noted that cultural events like Akwasidae provide a bridge for reconnection and economic opportunity.

That said, he hailed the leadership of Otumfuo.

“Your leadership in the past 27 years demonstrates that tradition does not need to stand apart from development. It can support it and provide the kind of stability that encourages people, both locally and abroad, to commit resources with confidence.”

Admiration
In his speech, the Olu of Warri Kingdom in Nigeria, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, disclosed his long-held admiration for Otumfuo, lauding him as a builder and guardian of peace, highlighting his contribution to Ghana’s peace and development.

Offering his continued goodwill and praying for longevity for the Asantehene, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III affirmed solidarity between the Asante Kingdom and the Warri Kingdom.

“I look forward to many years of peace and prosperity in the Ashanti Kingdom, Ghana, and across Africa.”

Felt Legacy
Speaking on behalf of KGL Group and Corporate Ghana, Mr. Alex Appau Daddey, the Executive Chairman of KGL Group, expressed deepest gratitude and respect to His Majesty.

He stated that the leadership of Otumfuo had been a gift to Ghana and Africa.

“Your legacy therefore is not one that is simply to be remembered but one that is to be felt. Felt in the peace that communities enjoy today, felt in the institutions you have helped shape, felt in the pride of the people whose identity you have protected and elevated.”

Embodiment of Peace
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, took her turn celebrating the Asantehene and wished that his leadership continues to inspire the world.

She recognized that peace is synonymous with truth, work, leadership, judgment, restraint, the ability to hold trust across differences, and the ability to summon reconciliation where others see only division.

All these, she said, are embodied by the Asantehene, earning him honour as a world leader and a pillar of peace.

“His Majesty has shown over many years that traditional leadership and modern statecraft are not in contradiction. At their best, they strengthen one another. The moral authority of tradition, exercised with wisdom and integrity, can help societies find balance, restore dialogue, and move forward together, anchored in values tested by time.”

Asset to Ghana
In a speech delivered on his behalf, President John Dramani Mahama credited the Asantehene with strengthening Ghana and sustaining its peace over the past 27 years.

He cited His Majesty’s role and interventions in the Dagbon and Bawku chieftaincy disputes and re-echoed his longstanding conviction that Otumfuo “does not belong to Asantes alone. He is a national asset.”

Global Peace
The Asantehene called for global peace as he warned that the international order sustaining peace since the last World War is under threat and urged the use of “the wisdom of King Solomon and the patience of Job” to navigate current crises.

Stressing that no conflict is isolated, he said wars in Europe and the Middle East weigh on Ghana too, and that “wherever peace is threatened, the whole world is threatened.”

Bedrock of Peace
The Asantehene emphasized that traditional leadership remains the bedrock of peace and development.

Reflecting on his reign, he noted that chieftaincy institutions, built on the wisdom of Ghana’s forefathers, have resolved countless disputes, reduced the cost of doing business, and fostered family harmony.

His Majesty urged the nation to nurture and support traditional authority so it can continue as “a catalyst for development.”

New Politics and Ending Blame
The King also called for a new face of Ghanaian politics ahead of the country’s 70th anniversary in 2027, asking President John Dramani Mahama to lead politics with “less acrimony and zero tolerance for insults,” grounded in truth, discipline, law, and a focus on development.

Otumfuo further challenged Ghanaians to end the culture of blame and take personal responsibility for national progress.

He criticized the tendency to blame the First Republic, government, politicians, religious leaders, parents, or schools for national failings, stating that “we ourselves are responsible for stimulating” corruption and other problems.

He urged citizens to seize business opportunities, noting that the dominance of imported goods in shopping malls signals a huge market for local manufacturing. “It is not a matter of government. It is a matter of business,” he said.‘

Build Ghana Now’ Campaign
To drive that agenda, the Asantehene launched the ‘Build Ghana Now’ campaign, inspired by the ‘Self-Government Now’ slogan.

He called on business leaders, traditional rulers, farmers, and the media to invest, take risks, and “put their money where their mouths are.”

He appealed to the Bank of Ghana to make capital available to the private sector and commended KGL Group’s Executive Chairman Alex Appau Daddey and Sir Sam Jonah as examples of exemplary Ghanaian leadership.

“There can be no gain without risk and no benefit without effort and hard work,” he concluded, insisting Ghana’s future depends on citizens investing in the nation they have.

Unveiling Customized Gold Coin Box
The occasion was also used to launch the world’s first gold coin box with built-in screens that display a documentary on Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s peace initiatives.

It also holds a 24-karat, one-ounce gold coin bearing Otumfuo’s image, approved by the Bank of Ghana.

This is the first keepsake of its kind globally. No other monarch or traditional leader has ever had such an item created in their honour.

The first two sets were presented to the Asantehene and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama.

The remaining pieces were auctioned at the event.

Other Commemorative Items
The event further witnessed the unveiling of other commemorative pieces including the Otumfuo Commemorative Gold Bar and Gold Tablets, Otumfuo Commemorative Artworks, and a 24-karat wristwatch.

These items symbolize Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s enduring legacy as a quintessential mediator and stabilizing force.

The gold bars represent the prosperity that stems from harmony, while the 24-karat wristwatch symbolizes the timeless relevance of the King’s counsel.

Together, they are intended to transform the Asantehene’s peace credentials into lasting and portable monuments.

Honouring National Leaders
Gold medals were also presented to personalities including President John Dramani Mahama, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

The presentation to President Mahama recognized his continuation of the Bawku mediation, the establishment of a GH₵1 billion revitalization fund, efforts to stabilize credit, and his deep respect for traditional authority.

For former President Akufo-Addo, it acknowledged his role in securing lasting peace in Dagbon and the transformative Free SHS policy, which the World Bank described as the most impactful in Ghana’s history.

Former President Kufuor was honoured for initiating the peace process in Dagbon, introducing the National Health Insurance Scheme, and steering Ghana through HIPC, which cancelled billions in debt to stabilize the economy.

“We honour HE John Dramani Mahama and his two living predecessors, President John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for their contributions in office to the preservation of peace of the nation.

“Honouring them tonight, we are underlining commitment to the unity of our nation and to greater harmony and consensus building in our political discourse,” Otumfuo said in his speech.

The Olu of Warri also received a monument to honour his presence.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/