Akufo-Addo to host state banquet in honour of Asantehene

President Akufo-Addo with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

President Akufo-Addo will on April 21, be the special guest of honour for the “Akwasidae Kese”, one of the key activities to mark Otumfuo Osei-Tutu, the Asantehene’s 20th year of ascension to the throne.

The event, which would take place at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi has been timed to coincide with the special traditional Sunday on the Asante calendar and would be one of the high points of the litany of activities marking the king’s enthronement, 20 years ago.

The President would also host a special state banquet in honour of Otumfuo Osei Tutu on April 26, the exact date, the King was enthroned.

Other dignitaries, namely, the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, the Chief Justice, former President John Dramani Mahama and other world notables, have also been invited to join in the celebrations.

Mr Kofi Badu, Asantehene’s Chief of Staff, at a media briefing at the Manhyia Palace on Sunday in Kumasi, announced that various activities including; football matches, an international investors’ forum and a host of other social and traditional mix of events, would begin on Wednesday, March 27th, ending on May 12, with a golf tournament.

On Wednesday, Otumfuo will commence the programme with the performance of the Atano rites, which would be followed by traditional performances Atano priests, at the Manhyia Palace.

The unveiling of Otumfuo’s statue and the sod-cutting for the second phases of the Central Market re-development project at Kejetia and the sod-cutting for the Phase 2 of the project, on May 2, would also take a centre stage, while a photo exhibition of Otumfuo’s achievements in education, health and other social sectors, would also be out-doored.

A Thanksgiving service has been scheduled on May 6, to mark the King’s 69th birthday and would be followed by a meeting with the Ashanti professional executives, as well as an Asanteman development summit and banquet.

A ban on funerals has been effected by the planning committee, to show respect to the King and also create a serene atmosphere for the celebrations.