Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chairman of the Council of State, today led a Government Delegation to the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as Asantehene at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

On behalf of President J.J. Rawlings, the government and people of Ghana, Alhaji Bawumia extended warm congratulations to Otumfuo Osei Tutu on his ascending the Golden Stool.

He said since the nomination of Otumfuo Osei Tutu to "the high office", he has endeared himself to the people of Ashanti and Ghana by his "noble humility and high sense of respect" for the rich traditions and culture of Asanteman.

Alhaji Bawumia said the Government and people of Ghana looked forward to his long, productive and prosperous reign as Asantehene in Ghana's development in the new millennium. "May the good Lord bless and protect you abundantly", the message said.

The Delegation included Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of State in charge of Security; Mr Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism; Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah, Minister of Lands and Forestry; Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister; Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Greater Accra Regional Minister; Commander P.M.G. Griffiths, Deputy Minister of Communications; Mrs Cecilia Johnson, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, and Nana Adjei Ampofo II, Omanhene of Goaso and Member of the Council of State.

Earlier, the delegation greeted Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa, who arrived at the Stadium with her retinue at 13:10 hours. The chiefs and their retinue started arriving at the Stadium as early as 10:00 hours after the ceremony at Pampaso.

Enstoolment Asantehene 2 Kumasi Otumfuo Osei Tutu arrived at the packed stadium at 16:00 hours and the milling crowd rose to its feet, cheering wildly, waving white handkerchiefs, singing appellations and dancing to traditional music. The Asantehene, dressed in "batakarikese", a talisman-studded war-dress in which the early Asante Kings went to battle, and riding in a palanquin with a bunch of leaves sticking out of his mouth, acknowledged the cheers and waved back with all majesty.

Blowing of "mmenson", while the courtiers, with blackened faces and led by Baffour Dumfeh Gyeabour III, Asantehene's Nsumankwaahene (chief priest), clattered executioners' swords and chanted war songs. The courtiers were followed by the Gyaase Division, which escorted the Asantehene's retinue with the entire Stool paraphernalia, amidst the throbbing of "fontonfrom" and atumpan (types of drums) and musketry at the background, all in a splendid and grand display of the rich Asante cultural heritage.

Following at the rear were the royal guards, who epitomised the Asante military formation, as they paraded locally made guns with which Asante fought its wars of conquest and expansion. When the Asantehene got to the dais where the government delegation and dignitaries sat, he stopped for about 10 minutes and allowed the leader of the delegation, Ministers of State, officers of the security agencies, and Nana Akwasi Agyeman, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, who also contested for the nomination to ascend the Golden Stool, to greet him.

He continued to greet the chiefs, including Nana Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene and "Nwisiaahene", who had been seated for long hours, awaiting the Asantehene's arrival. The Asantehene then continued to greet the assembled Amanhene (Paramount Chiefs) of Asanteman.

He then fired three shots from a musket, one each for - for the Right-Wing Chiefs; the Oyoko Clan and the Left-Wing Chiefs - before he left the Stadium in a palanquin amid cheers from the milling crowd. The convoy of the government delegation had a hectic time leaving the Stadium, as most of the dignitaries, who had sat waiting for long periods, decided to leave even before the Asantehene had left the Stadium.

Among the dignitaries was a nine-member delegation of chiefs from Cote d'Ivoire, led by Nana Koukou Osei Toutou Amougble III, Chief of Baule-Sakassou.

The British High Commissioner in Ghana, Mr Ian Mackley; French Ambassador, Mr Ferrand Didier; United States Ambassador, Miss Katherin Robinson and Barima Azumah Nelson, Former World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion. He arrived at the stadium in his limousine.

Members of the Diplomatic Corps; the Clergy; the Bar and the Bench were there to congratulate the new Asantehene. The ceremony continues tonight, when the Asantehene, would see and sit on the Golden Stool for the first time, and later swear the oath of allegiance to the Paramount Chiefs, who would in turn swear the same oath of allegiance to him.

At about 1100 hours on Tuesday, April 27, the Asantehene, who would be clad in a rich white cloth, would sit in state to receive homage and present gifts to the chiefs and other dignitaries.