How Asantehene Championed Africa to Polish Investors

The Occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has graciously and honourably taken on the role of Africa’s advocate, championing the continent’s prospects to Polish investors as part of his ongoing duty visit to Europe.

Addressing a gathering at the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów on May 29, 2026, the King unfolded Africa’s development agenda and called for a partnership rooted in respect and mutual benefit.

Otumfuo stated that Africa’s ready markets, minerals, food, potential, creativity and cultural confidence will complement Poland’s experienced industries, manufacturing capability, access to the European market, and expertise in engineering, logistics, education and agriculture.

“Together, we can create something powerful,” he said.

The King affirmed that global problems are interconnected and can only be resolved collectively.

“No nation can solve the problems of this century alone. Not Poland, not Ghana, not any African country, not Europe, not America and not China. The challenges are interconnected, and so must be the solutions. Partnership is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity. Poland and Africa must not wait for others to define our relationship. We must define it ourselves,” he said.

That said, His Majesty emphasised that his mission was not to ask Poland to do for Africa what Africa must do for itself, but to collaborate for solutions to shared problems.

“I come to say, let us build together. Let us build industries. Let us build schools. Let us build hospitals. Let us build farms. Let us build technology centres. Let us build cultural trust and let us build prosperity, and above all, let us build a future in which our children will say that when the opportunity came, we did not waste it,” he said.

Agriculture
Otumfuo classified agriculture as a pillar, calling it the foundation of any real Africa-Poland partnership.

His Majesty pointed to the paradox that has defined the continent for decades: vast arable land, yet persistent dependence on imported food and finished products.

“Africa has vast land, but too often, we export raw materials and import finished goods. This must change,” he said. “Poland has deep experience in agriculture through food processing, machinery, packaging and quality standards. These are areas where partnership will create immediate results.”

His Majesty urged investors to reset their view of Africa as a market for Polish food exports and instead invest in production and processing infrastructure on the continent.

“Let Polish investors not view Africa solely as a market for finished goods. Come and build factories, come and establish processing centres, come and partner with our farmers, come and create value chains that make African farmers wealthy and Polish investors successful,” he said.

Industry
From farms, Otumfuo moved to factories, where he criticised Africa’s continued export of raw materials as a policy failure.

“We cannot continue exporting minerals and importing mineral products. We cannot continue exporting timber and importing furniture. We cannot continue exporting cocoa and importing chocolate. This is not destiny but policy failure. This can be corrected with partnership,” he said.

Under the African Continental Free Trade Area, Otumfuo noted that a factory in Ghana accesses 1.4 billion consumers tariff-free and therefore proposed joint ventures in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, agricultural machinery, construction materials, textiles, renewable energy components, digital tools and general manufacturing.

Education
The Asantehene moved on to education, describing it as an economic weapon.

“No nation rises above the quality of its human capital,” he said. “Africa must make education not only a social service but an economic strategy.”

His Majesty cited the contribution of the Otumfuo Education Fund but indicated that the prevailing challenge is greater than any single fund, kingdom or government.

The Asantehene, therefore, urged Poland to consider scholarships in science, engineering, medicine, agriculture, digital technology and cultural studies.

Beyond scholarships, the Asantehene called for institutional twinning, including joint research, faculty exchange, student exchange and innovation labs.

“Let us build a knowledge corridor between Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk and Kumasi, Accra, Lagos, Nairobi, Kigali, Johannesburg and beyond. When knowledge travels, prosperity follows,” he said.

Health
On health, Otumfuo said COVID-19 exposed a hard truth: “No nation is safe until all nations are safe.”

His Majesty remarked that health security is not charity but in the global interest.

“Africa needs robust health systems. We need medical equipment, diagnostics, pharmaceutical products, digital health platforms, hospital management systems, specialist training,” he said.

Otumfuo pointed to Poland’s strengths in health sciences and medical technology as a natural fit and proposed concrete cooperation in vaccine distribution, laboratory systems, telemedicine, maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, emergency care and hospital infrastructure.“

Partnerships that save lives are partnerships blessed by God,” he said.

Culture
The King then shifted to culture, urging Africa and Poland to use it as the first bridge for deeper economic and diplomatic ties, describing it as a tool for diplomacy, identity and soft power.

Otumfuo identified economic partnerships that could emerge from such exchanges, highlighting viable collaborations in film, creative industry investment and museum partnerships.

“Let us use culture to open doors that commerce can walk through,” he said.

Africa’s Role
In all these, Otumfuo said Africa must earn investor trust through institutions.

“Investment requires trust. Trust requires consistency. Consistency requires institutions. Africa must improve governance, protect contracts, fight corruption, make land acquisition transparent, provide reliable infrastructure and support the rule of law,” he said.

Investors’ Role
His message to investors was equally firm.

“Don’t come with short-term thinking. Do not come only to take. Do not come with projects that make the people even poorer. Come with respect. Come with patience. Come with local partners, technology transfer, training and environmental responsibility,” he said.

His Majesty dismissed empty declarations, saying, “Africa has seen many promises. We have seen conferences, we have attended many forums, we have listened to many declarations, but our people no longer need critical communiqués that do not change lives. The time has come for practical answers.”

The Asantehene stressed that the best investment is not the one that makes profit alone, but one that makes profit and leaves dignity behind.

Poland-African Business Council
To make it real, Otumfuo proposed the establishment of a Poland-Africa Business Council with clear sector priorities, a Ghana-Poland investment desk, trade missions to regions not just capitals, financing for SMEs and women entrepreneurs, youth innovation programmes, and annual reporting on results.

“Let us make the partnership not by applause but by factories built, jobs created, farms modernised, students trained, hospitals equipped, contracts signed and communities transformed,” His Majesty said.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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