Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu the II received a heroic welcome at the Kumasi Airport when he returned from a recent trip to the United States at the invitation of the United Nations (UN).
The high point of the visit was his historic speech on Culture of Peace at the UN General Assembly High-Level Forum.
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Hundreds of people from all walks of life, including political party representatives, traditional leaders, students and indigenes besieged the airport to give the overlord of Asante a rousing welcome.
Clad in white cloth with flags designed in colours of the Manhyia Palace, Otumfuo acknowledged thunderous cheers and applause as he emerged from the Vista Jet aircraft.
Amid drumming and dancing, the crowd showed appreciation to the overlord for the honour he has brought to the Asante Kingdom for being the only monarch in recent times to have addressed the UN General Assembly.
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His pedigree of significantly leveraging culture to contribute to peace and tranquillity in Ghana is no secret.
Asantehene is credited with leading a committee of eminent chiefs to successfully mediate the aged-long Dagbon chieftaincy crisis. Other areas of achievement include negotiations on the gas deal between Ghana and Nigeria.
The crowd responded to wild jubilation after Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah walked up to the gate of the aircraft to usher in the King.
The Asantehene then exchanged pleasantries with members of the Regional Security Council, traditional authorities, religious leaders and heads of departments as well as journalists.
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He was later ushered into his waiting Rolls Royce Phantom car whilst acknowledging cheers and applause of the crowd with beaming smiles and chauffeured through the principal streets of Kumasi en route to the Manhyia Palace.
Member of Parliament for Bantama, Daniel Okyem Aboagye, who described the Asantehene as “hero’” said the crowd is to show appreciation to the King for making Ghana proud.
“We have come together as Ghanaians regardless of our differences; religious or political are here to welcome our hero, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for the wonderful work he went to do in the United Nations General Assembly,” he said.
“He was invited there to speak as one of the peacemakers and for him to come back, we are showing the whole world that we are appreciative of the invitation, we are proud of the speech he delivered and that he is a great leader and he has made us proud again as he always does,” he added.
Source: Ghana I Nhyira FM I Ohemeng Tawiah