Let’s Use Culture to Open Doors Commerce Can Walk Through- Otumfuo to Poland
The Occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged Ghana and Poland to use culture as the first bridge for deeper economic and diplomatic ties.
Speaking at the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów on May 29, 2026, His Majesty described culture as a tool for diplomacy, identity and soft power.
“Culture is not entertainment alone. Culture is identity. Culture is memory. Culture is diplomacy. Culture is soft power. Culture is the soul of the people,” Otumfuo said.
His Majesty praised Poland’s proud cultural tradition and highlighted Asante’s heritage rooted in governance, symbolism, art, cloth, language and philosophy.
“When we exchange cultures, we do more than perform for one another. We understand one another. It removes suspicion, we humanise diplomacy, we create friendship where politics alone may be insufficient,” His Majesty stated.
Otumfuo outlined a vision for direct cultural collaboration between both nations and cities.
“I dream of a cultural festival in Kumasi, Accra and other cities in Africa. I dream of Asante cultural exhibitions in Warsaw. I dream of museum partnerships, heritage research, film collaborations, music exchange, and creative industry investment,” he said.
The King drew parallels between Asante kente and Polish cultural textiles, and African drum rhythms and Polish music, saying, “The kente cloth of Asante and cultural textiles of Poland come from different places but tell stories of identity. The drum beat of Africa and the music of Poland may have different rhymes, but both carry the heartbeat of a people.”
Otumfuo identified economic partnerships that could be born out of such partnerships while highlighting viable collaborations in film, creative industry investment, and museum exchanges.
“Let us use culture to open doors that commerce can walk through,” he said.
His Majesty noted that this would build familiarity and trust, making it easier for Polish investors to partner with African institutions in agro-processing, manufacturing, health and technology.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
