Asantehene announces plans to roll out development projects

Kumasi, April 26, GNA - The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has announced plans to roll out new ambitious economic development initiatives to complement the achievements chalked under his leadership in the last 10 years.

He said under his newly launched Charity Foundation, which had been incorporated in Ghana, United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), a number of development initiatives in the areas of environmental sanitation, ICT, private sector development, tourism and education among other things would be tackled. Addressing a spectacular durbar of chiefs and people of

Asanteman to climax the 10th anniversary of his ascending to the

Golden Stool at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi on Sunday,

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said, additionally, a Royal University of

Excellence would be established to promote the development of

tourism, ICT, sports, culture and other disciplines in the country. Besides, small and medium scale enterprises would be

supported under an Economic Agency, to be set up by the

"Otumfuo Osei Tutu Charity Foundation". The Asantehene pledged to focus within the coming

decade on entering into effective cooperative agreements with other

traditional leaders in Africa to support the initiatives. He said the 10 years of his rule had demonstrated that

modern governance could coexist harmoniously with traditional

governance. This was the philosophy behind the World Bank's supported "Promoting Partnership with Traditional Authorities Project (PPTAP)", which had helped to provide education, health and sanitation facilities to about 40 communities throughout the country. Over the last decade, he had applied the traditional way of resolving conflicts and this had yielded positive results, he said. The Asante King called on the people to support him to carry through with these initiatives.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu used the occasion to honour four former African Heads of State for their contribution towards the deepening of democratic governance on the Continent. They were Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria; Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone; Jerry John Rawlings of Ghana and Festus Mogae of Botswana.

They received beautifully designed kente clothes and citations. Former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, who was also present, was honoured by the Asantehene for his love and support for Africa. He also received a kente cloth and a citation. Sixty treated of minor ailments at Asanteman durbar

Kumasi , April 26, GNA - More than 60 casualties were attended to by the health team deployed at the durbar of chiefs and people of Asanteman held to climax activities marking 10 years of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene's coronation.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, venue of the durbar, the Head of the Health Team, Mr Charles Anane, a Clinical Pharmacist, said most of the casualties presented dehydration, leading to dizziness, common headache and

stomach-ache. He said many of them were treated and discharged but a few were referred to the Stadium Clinic, while those with serious conditions were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Mr Anane said the Team was made up of personnel of the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Service, Ghana Red Cross and Saint John's Ambulance Brigade.