Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has commended President Akufo-Addo for his consistent show of attention to Asanteman, thereby situating the region to a position of prominence and honour in terms of development in the country. The Asante monarch said he has followed with keen interest the tenure of President Akufo-Addo since 2017, stressing: “Issues of key concern to the development of Asanteman have been placed on the front burner of government’s development agenda.” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made this known on Sunday, the 16th of August 2022, when the President paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace, at the commencement of his 4-day working visit to the Ashanti Region. “On the occasion of your four-day visit here, which has become a regular feature, I am happy you are here to inaugurate and inspect the projects undertaken by your government for all to see that, indeed, under you, Asanteman has benefited”, he said. The traditional leader continued: “You have served us well and brought honour to Asanteman in the two terms that you have served as President. Therefore, I can only ask of the blessings of Almighty God and that of the ancestors for continued strength to serve Ghana.” President Akufo-Addo, for his part, said the visit to the region was part of his yearly routine to visit all the regions across the country to acquaint himself with the development situation on the ground. He said: “At the end of his four-day tour of the region, all will know that, indeed, Asanteman has benefitted significantly in terms of development.” President Akufo-Addo indicated that “nearly 350 kilometres of Asphaltic Road network have been done in the Ashanti region. This is irrespective of the 100 kilometres being done in the Kumasi Metropolis and the other 100 kilometres being done with regards to urban roads. 32 separate hospital projects have been done in my time in the Ashanti region.” Touching on the galamsey menace, the President stated: “I am also happy that the issue of illegal mining has become topical during my administration. Nobody spoke about it before I came, now I am happy that chiefs, including you, have all joined to see the fight to a good end. We have come to end and with your support, we will indeed succeed at it.”