I would always abide by the truth - Asantehene

Kumasi, April 6, GNA - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has given the assurance that he would always abide by the truth in the discharge of his duties during his reign.

"In the last 10 years of my reign, I have taken some difficult decisions which I know did not go down well with some of my subjects but I am happy that those decisions have helped to facilitate the peace, unity and development of Asanteman and Ghana in general", he said. Otumfuo Osei Tutu was speaking at a non-denominational thanksgiving service held at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Sunday.

The event formed part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu and held under the theme "A Decade of Inspirational Leadership, Peace and Progress."

The Asantehene affirmed that he would strive to uphold the virtues upon which Asanteman was built and that he would continue to initiate programmes and viable projects for the betterment of the people. He thanked the churches for collaborating with Manhyia in organizing the service to express his appreciation to God and called for their prayers for a successful reign.

In a sermon, the Most Reverend Thomas Kwaku Mensah, the Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, said it was important that Ghanaians reflected on the significance of Easter and resolve to foster unity and peace among the citizenry.

He condemned recent reports of ethnicity and tribalism gaining grounds and said "We are all one before God and so should love each other and treat everybody with the respect he or she deserves irrespective of where one is coming from", he said. Prayers were said for the Asantehene and the nation.