Asante youth association bid Asantehene farewell

Kumasi (Ashanti), 22nd March '99 - The Asante Youth Association (AYA) has described the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, the Asantehene, as the custodian and embodiment of the rich Asante culture and aspirations. The AYA said his good deeds would be cherished and written in letters of gold for posterity. This was contained in a tribute to the Asantehene by AYA, signed by its President, Mr Yaw Atta-Poku, in Kumasi. The tribute said Otumfuo Opoku Ware would be immortalised with nostalgia by the youth of Asante, adding that his gentility will be emulated by the youth. It said the Asantehene was a "humble giant", for though "he had all powers that could be used for anything he wished for", he used his powers for the good of all. The AYA said the strongest feature in his character was prudence, as he never acted until every circumstance or consideration had been maturely weighed "His integrity was most pure and his justice most flexible", the association said. "He was indeed in every sense of the word a wise, good and great man", the tribute said. AYA hoped his spirit would guide the elders of Asanteman in their selection of a successor.