Kumasi Traditional Council informed of Asantehene's death

Kumasi (Ashanti), 5 March '99 - The Kumasi Traditional Council(KTC) WAS yesterday formally informed of the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, Asantehene. The announcement was made by Baffour Amoateng the third, Jachiehene, on behalf of Gyaase, Ankobea, Mawere and Nkosuo divisions of Kumasi. By custom, Baffour Amoateng, presented 24 bottles of Schnapps, which were distributed among the various divisions of the council by servants of the house. Baffour Awuah the fifth, Bantamahene, on behalf of the council, accepted the drinks and then informed members of the council and the gathering at the Manhyia Palace, all clad in mourning cloths, about the death of the Otumfuo about a week ago after a short illness. Otumfuo Opoku Ware, 80, returned from Britain on Thursday, October 22, 1998, where he underwent a medical review. Otumfuo Opoku Ware, known in private life as Barima Kwaku Adusei alias Jacob Mathew Poku, was enstooled in 1970 as the 15th Asantehene, succeeding as far as the name is concerned, his great, great grand uncle, Opemsuo Osei Tutu, who founded the Asante Kingdom three centuries ago. As the occupant of the Golden Stool, symbol of Asante unity and their source of inspiration, Otumfuo was the traditional ruler and head of Asantes. Otumfuo Opoku Ware was a barrister by profession. He was educated at Adisadel College, Cape Coast. He worked as a Building Inspector at the Kumasi Town Council between 1937 and 1940 and then with the Public Works Department and the Royal Air Force as Building Draughtsman and Surveyor from 1941 -1943. His uncle, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh the Second, recalled him to assist in setting up the Asantehene's Land Office in 1943, when the Golden Stool lands were restored to him. While working at the Asantehene's Lands office, Otumfuo Opoku Ware, gave out land for the establishment of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Working as a Surveyor, he later made the profile for the first building of the University. Between 1952 and 1962, he studied in the United Kingdom (UK). He returned to set up a private practice in 1962 as a Barrister-at-Law after studying at the Middle Temple. The National Liberation Council appointed him to the Executive Council in 1968 and was the Secretary of Communications. In March 1970, Otumfuo Opoku Ware, was appointed Ghana's Ambassador-designate to Italy but his Uncle, Prempeh the Second, died and he was called upon to occupy the Golden Stool. Otumfuo Opoku Ware was a devoted Christian and a member of the Saint Cyprian's Anglican Church Council, Kumasi, in 1968. In 1972, Otumfuo toured Britain at the invitation of the British Government and had audience with the Queen and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. In 1974, the Italian Government invited him to Italy and he was given audience with the President and Premier, and Pope Paul VI. From Italy, he led a Ghana goodwill mission to Teheran where he was received by the Shah of Persia and the Prime Minister. Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second returned home on October 22 last year from London after a five-month holiday during which he underwent a medical review. He was welcomed at the Kotoka International Airport by Paramount chiefs from Ashanti region. They included Nana Otuo Sereboe, Juabenhene, Nana Aboagye Adjei the Second, Omanhene of Ejisu, Nana Akuoko Sarpong , Omanhene of Agogo and Oheneba Edusei-Poku, Akyempimhene of Kumasi and the son of the Asantehene. The Asantehene, on October 23, 1998, called on Vice- President John Evans Atta Mills to express his gratitude to the government for taking care of him when he went to Britain for medical treatment. Otumfuo said he was moved when President Jerry John Rawlings sent an aircraft to Kumasi to lift him to Accra enroute to London. He said in London officials at the Ghana High commission went to great lengths to ensure his comfort when he was on admission at the hospital. Otumfuo Opoku Ware arrived in Kumasi on October 10, 1998 to a rousing welcome. He was met at the airport by the then Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, his deputy Mrs Joana Appiah-Dwomoh, the Metropoilitan Chief Executive Nana Akwasi Agyemang, Lieutenant Colonel Fuseini Iddrisu, Commanding Officer of the Fourth Battalion of Infantry and Mr Yaw Adu- Gyimah, Regional Police Commander. Also at the airport were paramount chiefs in Ashanti, members of the Kumasi Traditional Council and other chiefs, all clad in white and a large crowd that sang his praises. After being formally welcomed back to Kumasi, the Asantehene drove through the principal streets of the city amid cheers from people from all walks of life, who had lined up along the streets to catch a glimpse of him. The long convoy ended at Manhyia, where a mini durbar was held to welcome him back home. At Manhiyia Otumfuo went round greeting all the chiefs gathered there. Otumfuo Opoku Ware, then Life Patron and Spiritual Head of Kumasi Asante Kotoko appointed Mr Herbert Mensah, Country Director of M- Net, Chairman of the Kotoko Board with effect from February, nine this year, his last act, which was covered by the media. Mr Mensah, who was to be responsible directly to the Asantehene was, therefore, requested to appoint his team of directors as soon as possible. The Asantehene also suspended the Kotoko Constitution and was to appoint a committee to draw up a new constitution. Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempimhene conveyed the measures to the players and officials on behalf of the Asantehene. He said the decisions were taken at an emergency meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council and some Paramount Chiefs, which deliberated on the crisis in Kotoko in Kumasi. The Akyempinhehe said his father hoped that with the appointment of Mr Mensah as the Board Chairman, the crisis in the Club would end.