Asantehene to visit UK

Accra, May 4, GNA - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is pay an official visit to the United Kingdom from Sunday, May 14 at the invitation of the British Government.

It would be the Asantehene's first visit outside Ghana since he ascended the Golden Stool in April 1999. A joint statement from the British High Commission in Accra and the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi said on Thursday that he is expected to call on the British monarch at the Buckingham Palace.

He would also visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development (DFID), British Council, Guinness and Standard Chartered Bank.

While in Britain, the Asantehene would publicise the Otumfuo Education Fund and visit a community project he helped to initiate at Brent in 1998. An official delegation of three and a larger number of personal assistants just like the first official visit by his predecessor, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II in 1972 would accompany him.

The call on the Queen is to reinforce the close relationship between the British Royal Family and Asanteman. The Queen visited Ghana last year.