Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the 16th occupant of the golden Stool of Asante, who was born on May 6, 1950, was installed Asantehene on April 26,1999. May 6, 2013 marks the 63rd birthday of the King. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has succeeded within this period in changing the phase of chieftaincy in Asante in particular and Ghana in general, attracting the attention of local and international observers. Below are a few notable areas.
i Education
Realising the importance of education as the most important tool for national growth and development, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, within seven months into his reign, launched the Otumfuo Education Fund to provide financial assistance to needy but brilliant students not only in Asanteman but Ghana in general. This has motivated others to follow suit.
The fund has benefitted over 5000 students at various levels of education throughout Ghana.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has introduced the best Teacher Award for teachers who teach in rural areas in Ghana. In 2012, he honoured one hundred (100) teachers selected from all the ten regions in Ghana. This singular initiative of Otumfuo is a source of inspiration and incentive to teachers who accept to teach in the remote and deprived areas in Ghana.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has received over ten Honorary Doctorate Degrees from local and foreign universities since his enstoolment in 1999. In recognition of his interest in the promotion of education and scholarship, the Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) elected him as Chancellor of the University in 2006 as the first non-head of State to hold the office.
At his own initiative, Otumfuo managed to secure a World Bank grant for pilot projects involving construction of new school buildings and rehabilitation of old ones, as well as building of teachers’ bungalows. Following the successful implementation of the scheme which is first of its kind in the world, efforts are on the way to enter into the second phase of the scheme.
ii Health Care
Health care has been another area of concern to His Majesty Osei Tutu II. He has pursued many initiatives aimed at ensuring good quality life for the people in Asanteman and beyond.
As a first step, he has been encouraging his chiefs and people to maintain healthy environmental practices to avoid health and other major hazards which have the potential to affect current and future generations. He has called for the protection of water bodies and has personally pursued measures to discourage building in water ways and unauthorized sites.
Otumfuo has recently put in place a mechanism for landlords and landladies to acquire leases for their facilities at drastically reduced fees.
In an effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality, he has personally provided financial, material and educational support in that regard. One outstanding effort of His Majesty, which is linked up with all the paramountcies in Asanteman, is the establishment of the Serwaa Ampen Aids Foundation for children under the leadership of Lady Julia Osei Tutu. The scheme seeks to collaborate with international agencies, as well as private sector and individual organizations to support and care for children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
iii Modernity in Chiefaincy
As the first Asantehene of the 3rd Millennium, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has set high standards for chieftaincy in Ghana and beyond. He has constantly reminded the chiefs of Asanteman to preserve the customs and rich culture of Asante in the mist of changing modern trends. Positive behaviours which make Asantes unique as a people should be highlighted, preserved and transferred to successive generations.
Otumfuo has stressed that chiefs do not go to war these days and that the wars they are required to engage in and win convincingly, as in the past, are wars against illiteracy, ignorance, disease and poverty.
His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has brought peace and reconciliation to his Kingdom. He has settled over five hundred chieftaincy and land disputes. He has established a solid foundation for cooperation between tradition and modernity, by emphasizing the need for tradition to redefine itself in a rapidly changing world without losing its essence.
In June 2001, the University of Glasgow, UK, conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Law on His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, one of such many awards. In a citation, the University said, among other things, “The role of the traditional ruler in modern Africa is delicate, not infrequently difficult, he has to protect and use the best of the past while encouraging beneficial change, the combination of the contemporary and the traditional in Osei Tutu’s training and his personal qualities and not least his abundant charm, has fitted him to be King of a people who are immensely proud of their past but also entirely at home in the modern world”.
This is a true presentation of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as indeed, King of the moment.
As Otumfuo Osei tutu II chalks sixty-three years, we can only wish him God’s blessings and that of the ancestors and pray for long life, protection and good health for him to continue to lead Asanteman from strength to strength and deepen the greatness of the Asante Kingdom, which we so much cherish..
His vision for the Kingdom is clear and he needs the support of all, particularly the chiefs and people of Asanteman to forge ahead as a united and progressive people, determined to maintain and protect the values which our forefathers stood for and which is our lot today.
At this stage, we have to commend Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa for her support and advice to the Great King. We can also not forget Lady Julia Osei Tutu, and all the chiefs and people of Asanteman for the support accorded our inspirational King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Otumfuo, myJCR wishes you a Happy Birthday. Stay blessed Nana!
