Otumfuo Celebrates 10 Years of Purposeful Leadership

A GNA Compilation by Boakye-Dankwa Boadi
Accra, April 23, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II climaxes the 10th anniversary of ascending the Golden Stool with a durbar of chiefs and people of Asanteman at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi, on Sunday April 26 2009.
Council Asantehene
KTC accepts Asantehemaa's nomination
Kumasi, March 30 (1999), GNA - The Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) on Tuesday accepted the nomination of Barima Kwaku Duah, a 49-year-old business executive, as the successor of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.
At an emergency meeting of the Council at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Nana Saaman Nantwi II, Saamanhene and head of the Gyaase Division, informed the meeting that Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa, had nominated her son, Barima Kwaku Duah as the successor and he has been accepted by the Gyaase.
Baffour Awuah V, Bantamahene and head of the Kingmakers of the Golden Stool and Acting President of the Council, thanked the Asantehemaa for the decision.
Baffour Awuah said since there has been no objection by the members he was ordering that Barima Duah should be introduced to the Council. Later, the Saamanhene led Barima Duah, in mourning cloth, to the meeting and when his presence was announced, he removed his native sandals and shook hands with the Bantamahene to signify his acceptance by the Council.
Baffour Awuah informed the meeting that a delegation would be sent to Nana Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene and Asanteman "Nwisiahene" tomorrow to inform him of the Asantehemaa's decision on the successor of the Former Asantehene to be conveyed to the Asanteman Council. The Asanteman Council's acceptance of Barima Duah would lead to his confinement for 40 days prior to his installation and enstoolment. By Asante custom, royals aspiring to the Golden Stool are given the title "Barima" and after enstoolment he can adopt any title of his choice.
Biography of Barima Duah
Barima Duah was born in May 1950 to the present Asantehemaa. He began his early childhood with his late uncle, Oheneba Mensah Bonsu, Hiahene of Kumasi.
After his secondary education at Sefwi Wiawso Secondary School and Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School (OKESS) in Kumasi, he studied accounting at the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), Legon in 1971. In 1973, Barima Duah proceeded to the United Kingdom to continue his accounting studies at Kilburn Polytechnic in North-West London. Two years later, he shifted course and enrolled at the University of North London to read Human Resource Development and Public Administration.
In 1980, Barima Duah moved to Canada where he worked with the Ontario Mutual Insurance Group in Toronto as a Senior Consultant for a year, during which, he participated in a short-term company-sponsored course at Toronto University.
He returned to Britain in 1982 and was admitted into the membership of the British Institute of Personnel Management (IPM), a professional body for human resource development practitioners in the United Kingdom, in 1985.
Barima Duah worked for Oxo, the famous British firm of food manufacturers, as an account officer and with his membership of the IPM; he joined the Manpower Services Commission attached to the Brent Council in North London, where he helped to develop and to oversee projects to assist young unemployed youth from deprived communities to get into self-fulfilling employment.
He returned to Ghana in 1989 to set up his own business and has acted as representative of some highly reputable British and European companies in the mining sector. Barima Duah is married to Madam Yaa Akyaa with three children.


Oath Asantehene

Osei Tutu returns and swears oath

Kumasi, April 5, GNA - Barima Kwaku Duah, Asantehene-elect on Monday swore the customary oath to the chiefs of the Kumasi Traditional Area under the stool name Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at "Dwaberem" at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, 49, successor to Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, who died on February 25 1999, held the "Mponponsuo", the state sword, in his right hand, espoused the greatness, achievements and conquests of his ancestors and pledged to blaze their trail.

"If I fail to continue the exploits of my ancestors and fail in my duty I contravene the Great Oath of Asante", he declared. The enthusiastic crowd that had gathered there immediately mobbed Otumfuo Osei Tutu. Bare-chested-youth carried him on their shoulders, while women besmeared him with powder amidst singing of praises, drumming and dancing

The ecstatic crowd broke the security cordon to cast a glimpse at the new Asantehene.

The Divisional Chiefs of Kumasi swore the oath of allegiance to Otumfuo Osei Tutu in turns.

Earlier Baffuor Awuah V, Bantamahene and Acting President of the Kumasi Traditional Council on behalf of the 'Kontire Division' called on Otumfuo Osei Tutu to cooperate with his subjects and not to lord it over them.

He expressed the hope that under the administration of Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asanteman and Ghana would see much progress saying that he should be patient; tolerant; tactful and maintain an open administration. Present were Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa the Right Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, Catholic Bishop of Kumasi; Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister and Mr Mike Gizo Minister of Tourism.

Asantehene Celebration

Royal family celebrates late Asantehene's 40th day tomorrow

Kumasi, April 7 (1999), GNA - The royal family and the Gyaase Division of the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) comprising the Gyaase, Mawere, Ankobea and Nkosuo would celebrate the 40th day celebration of the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II the late Asantehene, tomorrow, Thursday, 8th April at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

By Akan tradition and belief, the soul of any person after his death leaves for the ancestral world after 40 days and would never been seen on earth.

After tomorrow, the ban on drumming and funeral celebration within Asanteman instituted after the death of the late Asantehene would be lifted.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the newly-installed but yet to be enstooled Asantehene can now sit in court as a ruler but will not be expected to hold an opinion of his own, as he is presumed not to be conversant with the affairs of the State.

The few days after the installation are devoted to stock-taking of the drinks; sheep; monies and other presentations made to the bereaved family and Asanteman during the burial ceremony. Following his installation and enstoolment, the new King would then begin to study the palace structures, organisation and the history of the Kingdom including court etiquette, royal manner of speech and majestic walking.

On the first Thursday after his installation, which also falls, tomorrow, the Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, takes the new King to the stool house where he sees for the first time, the Golden Stool and the black stools.

Thereafter, he is allowed to offer libation and sacrifices, this is the only occasion that the Asantehemaa is granted permission to enter the male stool house, she sees the stools in the female stool house every "Akwasidae" and "Awukudae", the 40-day calendar of Akans. The Deboasehene and Abenasehene are the experts in the King's household, its organisation and what takes place there. With teaching aid models of the palace, the new Monarch learns the whole complex tapestry of Asante custom and regal life such as how to control his speech, his thoughts, his walking when to smile and when to look serious and gloomy.

The new King is taught courtesy and Asante values, culture and the great part that state drums play in it. Everything in Asante life depends on drums -"atumpan, kete, fontomfrom, and donno in combination with the dawuro".

The drums are used to summon people to council meetings and to war; they also played at the celebration of religious festivals and for entertainment.

He is taught to recognise each drum by its sound; to know what the combinations of the drum and sound mean. He is also taught how to dance to the tune and rhythm of all Asante drums. The models of teaching aids are called "nkraba" and the system of using them as visual and teaching aids for the schooling is called "nkrahene".

The schooling is done in such a way that it does not interfere with the normal engagements of the King; it takes place in the evenings. The mornings and afternoons are devoted to routine duties such as giving out money and offering libation and sacrifices. While the schooling is going on preparations for the enstoolment ceremony are also in progress, thereafter, the final rites of the departed Monarch are discussed.