Otumfuo Asantehene and his relations with Ghana’s heads of state

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is the 16th occupant of the highly revered Golden Stool of Asante whose first occupant was Opemsuo Osei Tutu, who reigned from 1680 to 1717. 

Many of Otumfuo’s predecessors were powerful and great achievers in their time, with unlimited authority to raise tax revenue and vast land revenue to pursue their social, military and traditional functions.  Otumfuo’s pedigree is solid and impeccable and he is justifiably proud of it.  He has never lost sight of the heavy burden of his responsibilities even though, unlike his predecessors, he does not have similar powers and authority. 

He does not have the power to raise revenue through taxation.  He does not have a standing army or police.  His revenue is mainly from “Asantehene’s Lands”.  

However, over time, colonial interventions, the political integration of geographical Asante into Greater Ghana and the successive political sequestration of Asantehene’s lands have combined to drastically curtail the financial power and authority of the Asantehene.  

The major residual “assets” a modern Asantehene has his traditional authority, moral authority and his persuasive powers.  By God’s grace, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is blessed with admirable personal attributes and qualities.  His affable personality and charisma, his legendary generosity and accessibility, his courage and truthfulness and above all, his sharp intellect attract him to anyone who comes into contact with him. 

Otumfuo ascended the Golden Stool in April 1999, the penultimate year of the presidency of his Excellency, President Jerry John Rawlings.  Otumfuo has interacted with all four Presidents under the Fourth Republican Constitution.  i.e., their Excellencies;  President Jerry John Rawlings, President John Agyekum Kufuor, the late President John Evans Atta Mills and currently, President John Dramani Mahama.  

As stated earlier, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is the President of the Kumasi Traditional Council.  He is the President of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs and the President of the Asanteman Council whose tentacles cut across many parts of Ghana.  

This unique trinity of traditional authority and leadership, in addition to the fact that his Asante Kingdom is the most populous, contributes about 20 per cent of the national population and continues to make significant contributions to the country’s economy, by way of being responsible for much of the domestic food production and foreign exchange receipts from cocoa, gold and timber, make it imperative for every President of the Republic of Ghana to accord him his due respect, honour and recognition.

In turn, in recent times, it has been the policy of every Asantehene to support the government of the day.  Accordingly, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,  has been privileged to welcome, counsel, caution and encourage each of Ghana’s Fourth Republican Presidents, irrespective of the colour of their political base.

In mid-April 2014, I had the singular honour of having an audience with each of our two former heads of state, their Excellencies; President Jerry John Rawlings and President John Agyekum Kufuor.

The conversations centred mainly on their working and other relations with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II during their separate tenures of office.  Their respective goodwill and solidarity messages to Otumfuo on the occasion of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of his enstoolment on the Golden Stool are given below.